Symptom dimensions, social network, and caregiver burden in chronic schizophrenia

Five symptom domains of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), f unctional capacity (GAF), three subscales of the extent of social network, and three subscales of caregiver burden section of the Involvement Evaluati on Questionaire (SIEQ) were measured in a cross-sectional sample of 51 chro nic schizophrenic outpatients. The excitement domain of the PANSS correlate d significantly with poor relationship with the patient (r = 0.33, P < 0.05 ) and worries about him/her (r = 0.28, P < 0.05), and the depression/anxiet y domain correlated significantly with worries about the patient (r = 0.30, P < 0.05). In a stepwise Linear regression model, strained and poor atmosp here between the patient and the caregiver was significantly associated wit h a high excitement component score of the PANSS (P = 0.017). There was no association between the extent of a patient's social network and caregiver burden. The authors suggest that, in chronic schizophrenia, treatment of pa rticular symptom dimensions may be more effective in relieving caregiver bu rden than interventions directed towards extending the patient's social net work.