DIFFERENCES ACCORDING TO RECRUITMENT METHOD IN SUBJECTS WHO CARE FOR A RELATIVE WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

With growing emphasis on community mental health care, there is increa sed research interest in the needs of people who care for a relative s uffering from chronic mental illness. This methodological note examine s the differences between two samples of caregivers for schizophrenia sufferers. The two samples were recruited by different methods from di fferent sources: one a mail survey of a self-help group and the other through patients at psychiatric hospitals and outreach clinics. Differ ences were minimal and recruitment through self-help groups is advocat ed as the more cost effective method.