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Comparing mental health levels between caregivers of patients with severe mental disorders and caregivers of patients with rare genetic diseases

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 August 2025

M. Di Vincenzo*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry
F. Guida
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry
S. Calamaro
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry
R. Murolo
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry
B. Prota
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry
M. Luciano
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry
G. Limongelli
Affiliation:
Inherited and Rare Cardiovascular Disease Unit, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
G. Sampogna
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry
A. Fiorillo
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Severe mental disorders and rare genetic diseases are chronic and highly disabling conditions requiring continuous assistance by caregivers, whose personal and social burden may result in mental health problems.

Objectives

The current study aims to compare objective and subjective burden as well as levels of general well-being, anxiety, depressive symptoms, PTSD symptoms, sleep quality and suicidality between caregivers of patients with severe mental disorders, caregivers of patients aged 0-18 with rare genetic diseases, and caregivers of patients aged 50-85 with rare genetic diseases.

Methods

Caregivers of patients with severe mental disorders were recruited at the Department of Psychiatry of University of Campania, Naples, if they were more than 18 and released consent. Caregivers of all patients with rare genetic diseases were recruited at the Inherited and Rare Cardiovascular Disease Unit of University of Campania, Naples, if they were more than 18 and released consent. Caregivers’ levels of personal and social burden, anxiety, depressive symptoms, PTSD symptoms, sleep quality and suicidality were assessed through standardized tools and compared between groups by carrying out analyses of variance.

Results

Seventy-seven caregivers were included, mostly women (74.0%) with a mean age of 52.2±12.5 years. Caregivers of patients with severe mental disorders were mainly mothers (31.8%) or partners (31.8%) of patients, showing the highest levels of subjective burden, as well as avoidance and need to be informed about the illness adopted as problem-solving strategies. Caregivers of patients aged 0-18 with rare genetic diseases were mainly mothers of patients (76.5%), reporting the highest levels of received support and PTSD symptoms. Caregivers of patients aged 50-85 were usually partners of patients (52.4%), who showed the lowest levels of need to be informed about the illness and PTSD symptoms.

Conclusions

Caregivers of patients suffering from chronic and disabling diseases such as severe mental disorders and rare genetic diseases are prone to develop mental health problems due to the persistent exposure to high levels of personal and social burden. To this extent, family psychosocial interventions may be effective strategies to be implemented in order to relieve the levels of burden, by taking into account the features of patient’s disease.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Information

Type
Abstract
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of European Psychiatric Association
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