The effects of caregivers’ social anxiety, aggression and attachment style on the severity of schizophrenia

Objective: Schizophrenia effects both patients and their caregivers significantly. Psychotic diseases, especially schizophrenia, are problematic for caregivers in almost every period of the illness. In our study, the presence of variables that may have an impact on the severity of illness such as social anxiety, aggression and attachment style in schizophrenia patients’ healthy caregivers are assessed with healthy controls. Methods: Thirty-eight chronic schizophrenia patients and their caregivers and healthy controls were included in the study. The study was conducted with a total of 92 people. Sociodemographic data form and Positive and Negative Symptom Severity Scale (PANSS) were applied to the patient group and additional Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Buss-Perry Aggression Scale and Experiences in Close Relationship-II were applied to the other participants. Results: A significant difference was found only in the mean score of social avoidance subscale when the healthy control group and the caregivers of schizophrenia patients were compared in terms of social anxiety, aggression and attachment style. It was found that the mean score of the social avoidance subscale significantly differentiated between the caregivers of the schizophrenia patients and the healthy control group. The positive symptom severity was predicted significantly by the mean score of the anger subscale in the caregivers of schizophrenia patients through the linear regression analysis. Discussion: Nowadays, non-hospital treatment facilities are being tried to be widespread, and therefore factors affecting family burden and studies to reduce this burden are gaining importance. Determining the needs of the patient's relatives and determining the areas of distress are also contributing to the patient's well-being. In this study for caregivers, we think that psychosocial interventions for social avoidance as well as motivational interviews for managing anger control and illness severity will benefit both patient and caregiver levels. [Anadolu Psikiyatri Derg 2018; 19(3.000): 274-280]