DEPRESSION IN THE CARE GIVERS OF CONVERSION DISORDER P DISORDER P DISORDER P DI

Background: Family members looking after the patients contribute greatly to reducing health care cost by helping to
manage patients at home. They experience psychological stress when 
environmental demands exceed their adap-
tive capacity. It causes them to suffer from emotional problems. This stress creates a feeling of hopelessness in them
and adversely affects their ability to cope. The purpose of this study is to assess the frequency of depression in the
primary care givers of patients suffering from conversion disorder.
Materials and Methods: It is a descriptive cross sectional study, conducted at Sarhad Hospital for Psychiatric
Diseases, Peshawar, from June 2011 to April 2012. A total of 150 caregivers of patients suffering from conversion
disorder were included in the study. Depression was assessed in the care givers using Hamilton depression rating
scale. Demographic data and illness related data was recorded on a semi structured proforma.
RESULTS: In this study 65.9% of the care givers were depressed, 22% were severely depressed. Majority of the
patients were looked after by parents and spouses. 84% of the caregivers were married. Depression in the care
givers was associated with number of admissions and duration of illness of the patient. Age, gender, marital status
and relationship to the patient had no significant relationship.
Conclusion: Majority of the caregivers suffered from moderate to severe depression. Depression in the care givers
was associated with increased symptom severity in the patients.
Key words: Caregivers, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Conversion Disorder, Depression.