Prevalance of Psychiatric Morbidity in the Primary Caregivers of Individuals on Dialysis for End Stage Renal Disease – A Cross Sectional Study

Background & Objectives: Family caregivers are considered as hidden patients experiencing physical and mental disorders. This affects the quality of not only their lives but also the health care provided to patients. This study aimed to investigate the psychiatric morbidity and its related factors among the caregivers of patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Methods: 30 consecutive caregivers of dialysis patients attending the dialysis unit in department of Nephrology were included. Socio-demographic data of both patients and caregivers was obtained using a semi structured proforma. Psychiatric morbidity was assessed using Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI).

Results: Majority of the caregivers were less than 60 years of age, females, literates, employed, were related as spouses of patients followed by children. 93.3 % of caregivers had psychiatric morbidity most common being major depressive disorder (43.4%).