Derajew Habtamu, Tolessa Daniel, Feyissa Garumma Tolu, Addisu Fikir, Soboka Matiwos
Emanuel Mental Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Department of Psychiatry, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
BMC Psychiatry. 2017 Mar 9;17(1):88. doi: 10.1186/s12888-017-1249-7.
Depression is a serious mental illness that affects patients' treatment outcome and caregiver's day to day life. The prevalence of depression among caregivers of patients with severe mental illness is greater than the general population. Little is known about depression among primary caregivers of patients with severe mental illness in Ethiopia. This study is aimed at assessing prevalence of depression and associated factors among primary caregivers of patients with mental illness.
A cross-sectional study was conducted among primary caregivers of patients with severe mental illness in Jimma University Teaching Hospital. Patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to assess depression. A multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS) was used to assess perceived social support; Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye opener (CAGE) scale was used to assess alcohol use disorder. After conducting descriptive analyses, logistic regression analysis was finally used for bivariate and multivariable analysis.
The overall prevalence of depression among primary caregivers of patients with mental illness was 12 (19%). Out of those caregivers with depressions, 11.3, 3.5 and 4.2% had moderate, moderately severe and severe types of depression respectively. The prevalence of depression among female primary caregivers was 25% (n = 40). Being single (aOR 2.62, 95% CI = 1.07, 6.41), giving care more than six hours per day (aOR 3.75, 95% CI = 1.51, 9.33) and caring for a patient who had more than once episodes of suicidal attempts (aOR 1.48, 95% CI = 1.07, 3.42) were positively associated with depression among caregivers of patients with mental illness.
We found that the prevalence of depression among primary caregivers was high. Depression among caregivers was associated with giving care more than six hours per day and caring for a patient who had two or more episodes of suicidal attempts. The prevalence of depression among female caregivers was higher than that of the male caregivers. Therefore, special focus should be given to primary caregivers spending long hours for providing care, those with low perceived social support; caregivers of patients with suicidal ideation and female caregivers.
抑郁症是一种严重的精神疾病，会影响患者的治疗效果以及照料者的日常生活。严重精神疾病患者的照料者中抑郁症的患病率高于普通人群。在埃塞俄比亚，对于严重精神疾病患者的初级照料者中的抑郁症情况知之甚少。本研究旨在评估精神疾病患者初级照料者中抑郁症的患病率及相关因素。
在吉姆马大学教学医院对严重精神疾病患者的初级照料者进行了一项横断面研究。采用患者健康问卷（PHQ - 9）评估抑郁症。使用多维感知社会支持量表（MSPSS）评估感知社会支持；使用戒酒、烦恼、内疚、警醒（CAGE）量表评估酒精使用障碍。在进行描述性分析后，最终使用逻辑回归分析进行双变量和多变量分析。
精神疾病患者初级照料者中抑郁症的总体患病率为12（19%）。在那些患有抑郁症的照料者中，分别有11.3%、3.5%和4.2%患有中度、中度严重和重度抑郁症。女性初级照料者中抑郁症的患病率为25%（n = 40）。单身（调整后比值比[aOR] 2.62，95%置信区间[CI] = 1.07，6.41）、每天照料时间超过6小时（aOR 3.75，95% CI = 1.51, 9.33）以及照料有多次自杀未遂经历的患者（aOR 1.48，95% CI = 1.07，3.42）与精神疾病患者照料者中的抑郁症呈正相关。
我们发现初级照料者中抑郁症的患病率很高。照料者中的抑郁症与每天照料时间超过6小时以及照料有两次或更多次自杀未遂经历的患者有关。女性照料者中抑郁症的患病率高于男性照料者。因此，应特别关注长时间提供照料的初级照料者、感知社会支持较低的照料者、有自杀意念患者的照料者以及女性照料者。
