Caregiver burden and disability in somatization disorder

AbstractObjective s assessed disability and caregiver burden in patients with somatization disorder (SOM-D), and compared it with that in patients with schizophrenia and chronic depression. s mple consisted of 30 patients diagnosed as SOM-D as per ICD 10 Diagnostic Criteria for Research (ICD-10-DCR), and 30 age- and gender-matched patients each of schizophrenia and depression, who served as comparison groups. Disability and caregiver burden were assessed using WHOʹs Disability Assessment Schedule (WHO-DAS) and the Family Burden Assessment Schedule (FBAS) respectively. Functioning and severity of illness were assessed on the Global Assessment of Functioning scale (GAF) and Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI) respectively. s ty of illness in patients with SOM-D was comparable to that in the comparison groups. Patients with SOM-D scored higher on total disability on WHO-DAS than the patients with schizophrenia and depression, though scores on family burden were comparable. Disability in patients with SOM-D was more in females, less educated, older and those working at home, compared to the other demographic groups. sion ts with SOM-D suffer considerable disability due to illness and impose significant burden on their caregivers, comparable to that seen in severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia and chronic depression.