Measuring emotional overload in relatives of people with psychiatric suffering of pelotas-RS, Brazil

Introduction: It is in the family of the person with psychiatric suffering that the collision with everyday care reality takes place, what may cause them negative reflexes. Emotional overload is related to the presence of problems, difficulties or other adverse events which affect the lives of these relatives.
Objective: Investigate emotional overload in relatives of people with psychiatric suffering in Pelotas.
Methods: All of the 1151 users going to Psychosocial Care Centers in April and May 2006 were studied, from which 1013 were interviewed (88%) in their residences, along with 875 care assistants, from which 96% were relatives. The overload was checked through the Burden Interview scale, in areas such as health, social and personal life, financial status, emotional well-being and interpersonal relationship. The questionnaire was answered by the relative/care assistant after signing the term of consent.
Results: One out of four care assistants reported to be very busy with the user and one-third believe their relative’s psychiatric suffering has caused them health problems. The average score in the scale of overload was 23,4 (d.p.=15,6) and women were significantly more overloaded (p<0,001), as well as elderly care assistants (p<0,01) and the ones with lower level of education (p<0,001).  Moreover, mothers (p<0,001) and people who need to assist the user every day showed higher scores in the scale (p<0,001). The higher the dependence in daily activities, the higher the level of overload is: 17,5 (13,4) for no dependence, 24,00 (15,7) for moderate dependence and 29,4 (15,4) for severe dependence (p<0,001).
Conclusions: Data indicate the necessity to reorient who shares with PCCs the responsibility for everyday care of people with psychiatric suffering in our city towards care policies.