Factors associated with emotional distress among caregivers of patients with schizophrenia in Katsina, Nigeria

management of chronic mental illness in the community. Caring for patients with chronic mental illness like schizophrenia can cause emotional distress in the caregivers. However, the magnitude of the problem remains largely unknown in Sub-Saharan Africa and other developing countries. Method A total of 129 caregivers of patients with schizophrenia attending the outpatient clinic of Katsina State Psychiatric Hospital were enrolled for the study. They were interviewed using socio-demographic data collecting sheet and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The data obtained were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science version 13. Statistical significance was set at 5% level of probability. Results The caregivers consisted of 87 (67.4%) females and 42 (32.6%) males. The mean age of the subjects was 45.07 ± 8.91 years. Siblings constituted majority of the caregivers. Emotional distress was found in 79.84% of the caregivers (95% CI 72.82–86.86). Factors associated with emotional distress in the caregivers were family size, education, financial support, patient gender and relationship with the patient. Conclusion Emotional distress is common among caregivers of patients with schizophrenia and the risk factors were similar in most communities