INFORMAL CARE AND PSYCHIATRIC MORBIDITY

Background We aimed to examine and quantify the relationship between p sychiatric morbidity and the provision of informal care in the communi ty. Methods The study involved a comparison of carers and non-carers i n a mixed urban and rural community (Morecambe Bay Health Authority). Data were collected by postal survey for 4550 adults; 10.9 per cent of respondents were identified as carers. Subjects were selected by quas i-random methods from the Family Health Services Authority (FHSA) regi sters. Potential psychiatric morbidity was defined as three or more sy mptoms on a standardized measure, the General Health Questionnaire (12 -item version). Results The prevalence of morbidity was significantly higher in people who care for others in their own homes, even after ad justment for other known risk factors for psychiatric morbidity (odds ratio 1.51, 95 per cent confidence interval 1.11-2.05). in contrast, t here was no significant relationship between morbidity and care outsid e the home in these data. Conclusion Health Authorities need to review support for carers and to consider ways to improve monitoring.