EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES OF CAREGIVERS SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the emotional and mental health challenges of caregivers caring for patients suffering from bipolar disorder in Pakistan. MethodologyA descriptive crosssectional study was conducted with a sample size of 300 caregivers selected through purposive nonprobability sampling from 5 mega cities of Pakistan, Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta. The research examined the impact on caregivers, including emotional, physical, and financial strain. The data were obtained using a demographic form and the Caregiver Strain Index (CSI) that defines 6 domains of burden. We performed descriptive and inferential statistical analyses in SPSS, Version 28, and found a significant caregiver strain, which was particularly marked among females and patients with longer durations of caregiving. Weak negative correlations were found between caregiver age and strain, meaning that older caregivers suffered somewhat less strain. Moreover, the findings showed that education did not appreciably mitigate strain, which was not in line with common sense opinions. The results emphasize the importance of tailored interventions, such as psychological support and respite care, in reducing caregiver burden. Future studies must know coping strategies, social support, and caregiving environments that could help in understanding strategies for reducing strain and enhancing caregiver well-being. This study is among the few studies conducted that provide on information regarding the strain on caregivers of patients suffering from BD in Pakistan and thus has implication towards policy interventions to alleviate these effects.