EVALUATION OF PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITY AMONG PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA IN RELATION TO MARITAL STATUS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

BACKGROUND The marital adjustment is a process in which an individual or a couple modifies, adopts or changes their behaviour pattern and interaction to gain the maximum satisfaction in their relationship. Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness associated with major disability in several spears of a person's functioning. Most of the previous studies shows that schizophrenia associated with adverse outcome on marriage. This study conducted to evaluate how disability due to schizophrenia related to marriage in these patients. AIM The study was undertaken to evaluate and correlate psychiatric disability in relation to marital status in patients with schizophrenia. MATERIAL AND METHODS It is a cross-sectional study in a tertiary care psychiatric hospital in 162 patients who was diagnosed of schizophrenia as per ICD - 10 criteria and on regular treatment for the past one year. Sample consists of three groups married, unmarried (never married) and single (widow, divorcee and single). IDEAS rating applied on all the subjects to evaluate disability and the result was analysed by t-test and ANOVA using SPSS 13.0 version. RESULTS Out of 162 patients with schizophrenia 81 married, 31 single and 50 unmarried. The mean disability score was (7.78) showing high disability in schizophrenia patients. Married patients group had more cases with mild disability scores and single and unmarried patients group had more cases with moderate-to-severe disability scores (Chi-square = 13.851 and p-value = 0.008). Mean disability score (9.12) was high in unmarried group. The marital status was significantly associated with disability (F-value = 3.622 and p-value = 0.029). Males reported high disability than females, but gender was not showing significant association with disability. Both male and female married patients had less disability. CONCLUSIONS Schizophrenia patients were showing higher disability and majority (50%) eligible for welfare benefits. Unmarried and single were having more disability and requires greater help from society and government. Community based assessment will be more helpful in planning future rehabilitation services to these patients in this deinstitutionalization scenario.