Clinical psychiatry Correlation between anxiety and personality in caregivers for patients with schizophrenia

Objective: The objective of this study is to analyses the correlation between state and trait anxiety, depression and personality traits in caregivers of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Method: The study sample consists of care-givers of 34 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to the DSM IV-TR criteria, and 37 healthy voluntary subjects demographically matched. The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAIX I-II) scales have been applied to the subjects.

Results: In this study, it has been found that STAIX-I and STAIX-II anxiety scores were higher in caregivers. The comparison between the groups has revealed that persistence (P) scores were higher in caregivers (P=0.036). A statistically significant correlation has been found between the STAIX –I score and harm avoidance (HA) (r=0.64, P<0.001); self-transcendence (ST) (r=0.44, P=0.01) and self-directedness (SD) scores (r=-0.58, P<0.001); STAIX-II score and harm avoidance (HA) (r=0.62, P<0.001); self-transcendence (ST) (r=0.47, P=0.005) and self-directedness (SD) scores (r=-0.58, P<0.001) of TCI.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that, by also taking into account their personal traits, caregivers of patients with schizophrenia should be assessed by clinicians more carefully and comprehensively in respect of anxiety.