Original scientific paper

SCHIZOPHRENIA CAUSES SIGNIFICANT BURDEN TO PATIENTS’ AND CAREGIVERS’ LIVES

Monika Szkultecka-Dębek ; Roche Polska Sp. z o.o., Warsaw, Poland
Katarzyna Miernik ; Arcana Institute, Cracow, Poland
Jarosław Stelmachowski ; Arcana Institute, Cracow, Poland
Miro Jakovljević ; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Vlado Jukić ; Psychiatry Hospital
Kaire Aadamsoo ; Psychiatry Clinic, North Estonia Medical Centre, Tallinn, Estonia
Sven Janno ; Tartu University Hospital, Estonia
István Bitter ; Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
Marek Jarema ; Instytut Psychiatrii i Neurologii, Warsaw, Poland
Slobodan Jankovic ; Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
Jan Pecenak ; Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
Livia Vavrusova ; Private Psychiatry office, Bratislava, Slovakia
Rok Tavčar ; University Psychiatric Clinic Ljubljana, Slovenia
Jacek Walczak ; Arcana Institute, Cracow, Poland
Darren Talbot ; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
Joanna Augustyńska ; Arcana Institute, Cracow, Poland

Abstract

Background: Schizophrenia is a serious public health problem and is ranked among the most disabling diseases in the world.
The sub-study presented here was part of a larger project to characterize the burden of schizophrenia on healthcare systems and on
individuals living with the disease in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).
Aims: This sub-study aimed to assess and analyze the impact of schizophrenia on many aspects of the lives of patients and
caregivers.
Methods: Psychiatrists from selected centers in seven Central and Eastern European countries were asked to complete a
questionnaire in order to collect information about the disease history, characteristics, treatment protocols and resources used for
each randomly selected patient. All data were statistically analyzed and compared between countries.
Results: Data from 961 patients with schizophrenia (mean age 40.7 years, 45.1% female) were included in the analysis. The
mean number of days spent in hospital per patient per year across all seven countries was 25.3 days. Hospitalization occurred on
average once per year, with psychiatrist visits 9.4 times per year. Of the patients in the study, 61% were single, 12% divorced and
22% married or cohabiting. Almost 84% were living with relatives or a partner; only 17% lived alone and, on average, 25% of
patients received support from social workers. Relatives provided care for approximately 60% of patients and 4% of them had to
stop working in order to do so. Twenty-nine percent of the patients were unemployed, and 56% received a disability pension or were
retired, with only 19% in full-time employment or education.
Conclusion: Schizophrenia has a significant effect on the lives of patients and caregivers and impacts their social integration.

Keywords

schizophrenia; burden of disease; retrospective data collection; patients; caregivers

Hrčak ID:

175253

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/175253

Publication date:

7.6.2016.

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