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Measuring the burden of psychiatric illness on the family: an evaluation of some rating scales

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Stephen Platt
Stephen Platt*
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Unit for Epidemiological Studies in Psychiatry, Edinburgh
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr S. D. Platt, MRC Unit for Epidemiological Studies in Psychiatry, University Department of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Park, Edinburgh EH10 5HF.
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Synopsis

The gradual shift towards non-institutional treatment for severe and chronic psychiatric illnesses has been accompanied by a recognition of potentially harmful effects (‘burden’) upon the patient's caregivers. This paper aims to provide a framework for the development of further research into the burden of ‘community care’ by offering a clear definition of the burden concept, an exposition of the criteria for evaluating rating scales to measure the concept, a review of major rating scales of burden, and some suggestions for improvements in methodology which are urgently required.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 15 , Issue 2 , May 1985 , pp. 383 - 393
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

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