Prevalence and determinants of depression among caregivers of patients with psychosis, in Babel Province, Iraq, 2015

Abstract EN

Objective : To estimate the prevalence and identify determinants of depression among caregivers of patients with psychosis in Babel province, Iraq, 2015.

Methods : The principal caregivers of all patients with psychosis who brought their patients to the two hospitals with psychiatric clinics in Babel province were included.

Data were collected using structured questionnaire to gather socio-demographic information of the caregivers and the patients.

Beck Depression Inventory-II [BDI-II] used to identify depression and determine the severity.

A score of more than 16 indicates the presence of depression.

Results: The total caregivers were 190.

The prevalence of depression was 73.7 % (95 % CI : 67.45-79.95).

Borderline clinical depression reported in 10%, moderate depression in 31.4 %, severe depression in 34.4 % and extreme depression in 24.2%.

Binary analysis revealed the following risk factors: caregiver sex, relationship to the patient, income level, and employment status.

Logistic regression analysis applied and revealed the following unconfounded risk factor : female sex (OR=10.09), rural residence (OR=5.399) and unemployment (OR=158.01).

None of the patient’s characteristics affects caregiver’s depression.

Conclusions: Depression among caregivers of patients with psychosis is very common.

Comprehensive psychosocial care of patients with psychosis and their families is recommended.