04-09-2012, 12:52 PM
PERFORMA FOR REGISTRATION OF SUBJECT FOR DISSERTATION
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INTRODUCTION
“Medicines are nothing in themselves, if not properly used, but the very hands of the Gods, if employed with reason and prudence” (Herophilus) 1.
Mental illness is defined as any disturbance of emotional equilibrium, as manifested in maladaptive behaviour and impaired functioning, caused by genetic, physical, chemical, biologic, psychologic, or social and cultural factors1. Mental illness is a major problem all over the world. Studies from developed countries have reported a prevalence rate of 15 per 1000 population2. In India the reported rate is 73 per 1000 population3. Organic psychosis (0.4), schizophrenia (2.7) and affective disorders (12.3) contribute to a rate of 15.4 for psychosis. The prevalence rate for mental retardation (6.9), epilepsy (4.4), neurotic disorders (20.7), alcohol/drug addiction (6.9) and miscellaneous group (3.9) were estimated4. Different treatment modalities such as drugs, electro-convulsive therapy, counselling, psycho-surgery and psychotherapy are used in the treatment of mental illness 2.
In the second half of the 20th century, chemotherapy became a major field of research and practice as a treatment for mental disorders. Until then people with psychosis were usually locked away in insane asylums, receiving only limited custodial care and social support, with practically no effective therapeutic option 3.
NEED FOR THE STUDY
Providing care for a member of the family with mental illness is a progressively overwhelming experience for caregivers. They are the people who are always with the patients and their role is very important. Many of the caregivers are ignorant about the importance of medication, side effects and the continuity of follow-up. They are unprepared to care for their relatives who are just discharged from hospital or who need a long-term treatment and supervised care 11.
Caregiver’s stress, burden and sense of being overwhelmed by the care giving roles have been linked to patient’s persistent behavioural problems and caregiver’s perceived or actual inability to handle them. So their role is important in caring for their mentally ill relative 12.
Due to short hospital stay and the involvement of the family in the care of the patient, the contact of the patient with healthcare personnel is minimal. It is the family which stays with the patients for 24 hours of the day helping the patient meet his/her needs. So it is very important that caregivers receive sufficient knowledge as to how to care for their relatives who are on antipsychotic drugs. Several studies have proved that informational booklet is an acceptable teaching strategy in increasing the knowledge of the people13.
.In view of the magnitude of the problem and the researcher’s own experience in dealing with caregivers of patients who are on antipsychotic drugs it was felt that an informational booklet based on the learning needs of the caregivers would help them to gain knowledge and be well prepared to care for their patients. In order to implement and evaluate that need the investigator formulated the following statement for the research study 14.