Table 1 Summary of twenty-eight studies included in this review
Study ID and Authors | Country & Setting | Study Design | Caregiving domains measured | t-test, p and Cohen’s d derived from M(SD) of SSD and BD comparisons | Key Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Blanthorn-Hazell et al. [52] | Germany, Spain & UK, community mental health | Cross-sectional | Burden | t(240) = 0.30, p = .764, d = 0.04 | - Caring for those with either SCZ or BD with agitation confers substantial and similar burden. |
2. Chadda et al. [53] | India, psychiatric outpatient clinic | Prospective cohort | Burden | t(198) = 0.78, p = .437, d = 0.11 | - Both caregiver groups experienced similar levels of burden, with no significant differences between caregiving groups. |
3. Chakrabarti and Gill [54] | India, psychiatric hospital | Cross-sectional | Burden | t(56) = 3.42, p < .01, d = 0.88 | - Total burden scores were significantly greater for caregivers of those with SCZ than BD. |
4. Chakrabarti et al. [55] | India | Cross-sectional/ psychometric validation | Distress | Information not available | - There were no differences in distress between caregivers of those with SCZ and BD. |
5. Chang et al. [56] | Taiwan, four hospitals | Cross-sectional | Burden, Depression, Anxiety | No total burden score available Depression Total Score t(298) = 0.98, p = .326, d = 0.12 Anxiety Total Score t(298) = 0.72, p = .470, d = 0.09 | - There were no significant differences in burden experienced between both caregiver groups. - No significant differences between groups on measures of depression and anxiety. |
6. Chien et al. [57] | Hong Kong & China, two psychiatric outpatient clinics | Cross-sectional/ psychometric validation | Burden | t(128) = 0.40, p = .690, d = 0.11 | - Level of family burden was not statistically significant between caregiver groups. |
7. Fekih-Romdhane et al. [58] | Tunisia, psychiatric hospital | Cross-sectional | Burden | t(43) = 1.99, p = .053, d = 0.61 | - No significant differences in burden experienced between caregivers based on diagnosis. |
8. Grover et al. [59] | India, tertiary-care teaching hospital | Cross-sectional | Burden, Distress | Total Burden score t(138) = 2.92, p < .01, d = 0.49 Distress comparison data not available | - Overall negative caregiving experience was higher in SCZ group compared to BD. - Positive personal caregiver experience was significantly higher in caregivers of those with SCZ compared to BD. - No significant differences between caregivers on measure of psychological distress. |
9. Grover et al. [60] | India, psychiatry outpatient clinic | Cross-sectional | Burden | Information not available | - Caregivers of those with SCZ had significantly higher moderate to severe objective burden compared to caregivers of those with BD. - Caregivers of those with BD has significantly higher subjective burden compared to caregivers of those with SCZ. |
10. Grover et al. [61] | India, psychiatry hospital | Cross-sectional | Burden | Objective Burden Score t(98) = 1.63, p = .107, d = 0.33 Subjective Burden Score t(98) = 3.67, p < .001, d = 0.74 | - Caregivers in SCZ group had significantly higher objective burden, subjective burden, and disruption to routines. |
11. Grover et al. [62] | India, 14 national mental health centres | Cross-sectional | Distress | t(1049) = 1.28, p = .200, d = 0.09 | - Caregivers of those with SCZ had significantly higher distress compared to caregivers of individuals with BD. |
12. Ak et al. [63] | Turkey, inpatient psychiatric unit | Cross-sectional | Burden | Information not available | - Caregiving burden was high across both groups, but no statistical difference was found. |
13. Nehra et al. [64] | India, hospital | Cross-sectional | Burden | Total Objective Burden Score t(98) = 0.97, p = .334, d = 0.19 | - All differences were non-significant between the two groups. |
14. RamÃrez et al. [65] | Colombia, Mood Disorders and Psychosis Clinic | Randomized-controlled trial | Burden | Information not available | - When comparing scores between the BD and schizophrenia groups, no statistically significant differences were found. |
15. Rodrigo et al. [66] | Sri Lanka, psychiatric hospital unit | Prospective cohort and cross-sectional | Burden, Depression | Information not available | - No significant differences between groups based on individual diagnosis were found on measures of burden and depression. |
16. Roychaudhuri et al. [67] | Nigeria, psychiatric teaching hospital | Cross-sectional | Burden | Total Objective Burden Score t(52) = 0.73, p = .467, d = 0.20 Subjective Positive Appraisal t(52) = 1.65, p = .104, d = 0.45 Subjective Negative Appraisal t(52) = 2.23, p < .05, d = 0.62 | - Statistically significant differences between caregivers of those with SSD and BD were only observed in subjective negative burden domain. |
17. Sharma et al. [68] | Nepal, psychiatric inpatient unit | Cross-sectional | Burden, Depression, Anxiety | Burden Total Score t(98) = 0.48, p = .632, d = 0.09 Depression Total Score t(98) = 0.57, p = .572, d = 0.11 Anxiety Total Score t(52) = 0.67, p = .504, d = 0.13 | - There were no statistically significant differences on burden, depression and anxiety based on individual diagnosis alone. - Spouses of individuals with SCZ had significantly higher stress levels than spouses of individuals with BD. |
18. Singh and Prajapati [69] | Nepal, transit home | Cross-sectional | Burden | Information not available | - Moderate caregiving burden was statistically higher in caregivers of those with SCZ compared to caregivers of those with BD. |
19. Vasudeva et al. [70] | India, tertiary care hospital | Cross-sectional | Burden | t(101) = 2.15, p < .05, d = 0.42 | - Both caregiver groups experience considerable burden, but global burden in caregivers of those with SCZ was significantly higher than in BD group. |
20. Webb et al. [71] | USA, hospital inpatient and outpatient programs | Cross-sectional | Burden, Psychological wellbeing | Total Burden Score t(82) = 1.45, p = .151, d = 0.33 Total Wellbeing Score t(82) = 1.97, p = .052, d = 0.17 | - No significant differences related to diagnosis of individual were found. |
21. Zendjidjian et al. [72] | France, psychiatric hospital unit | Cross-sectional | Mental Health | Mental Health Composite Score t(359) = 2.23, p < .05, d = 0.24 | - Caregivers of individuals with SCZ reported significantly lower mental health outcome scores compared to caregivers of those with BD. |
22. Zhou et al. [73] | China, nine psychiatric units | Cross-sectional | Burden, Depression, Anxiety | Information not available | - Caregivers of those with BD reported greater burden, regarding violent and suicidal behaviours from individuals, compared to caregivers of those with SCZ. |
23. Abdeta and Desalegn [74] | Ethiopia, university hospital | Cross-sectional | Presence of common mental disorders | Information not available | - No significant differences were noted in the percentage of caregivers presenting with common mental disorders (anxiety and depression). |
24. Cohen et al. [75] | Brazil, outpatient teaching hospital | Cross-sectional | Mental health, Depression, Psychological outcomes | Mental Health Composite score t(123) = 0.97, p = 0.332, d = 0.17 Psychological Outcomes score t(123) = 1.02, p = 0.311, d = 0.18 Total Depression score t(123) = 2.92, p < 0.01, d = 0.52 | - Caregivers of individuals with SCZ had significantly higher depressive symptoms compared to caregivers of those BD. - No significant differences were observed on the mental health and psychological outcome scores between caregiver groups. |
25. Ukpong and Ibigbami [76] | Nigeria, outpatient psychiatric clinics | Cross-sectional | Burden, Depression, Anxiety, Psychological outcomes | Total Burden score t(198) = 5.19, p > 0.001, d = 0.73 Total Anxiety score t(198) = − 0.17, p = 0.867, d = 0.02 Total Depression score t(198) = 3.25, p < 0.001, d = 0.46 Total Psychological outcomes score t(198) = 2.62, p < 0.01, d = 0.37 | - Burden was significantly higher in caregivers of individuals with SCZ compared to caregivers of those with BD. - Caregivers did not significantly differ in anxiety experienced. - Caregivers of those with BD reported significantly higher depression scores than caregivers of those with SCZ. - Caregivers of those with SCZ reported significantly lower psychological outcome scores compared to caregivers of those with BD. |
26. Udoh et al. [77] | Nigeria, neuropsychiatric hospital | Cross-sectional | Burden, Psychological Distress | Burden Total Score t(128) = 2.39, p < 0.05, d = 0.45 Psychological Distress Total Score t(128) = 0.48, p = 0.63, d = 0.08 | - No significant differences in caregiver burden were reported between caregivers of individuals with SCZ or BD. - Caregivers of individuals with SCZ reported higher levels of psychological distress compared to caregivers of those with BD. |
27. Asl et al. [78] | Iran, university psychiatric institute | Descriptive analytical | Burden, Depression, Anxiety, Psychological distress | Total Burden Score t(298) = 0.45, p = 0.65, d = 0.05 Depression, Anxiety and Stress Composite Score t(298) = 0.02, p = 0.99, d < 0.01 | - No significant differences in caregiver burden were observed between caregivers of individuals with SCZ or BD. - No significant differences in depression, anxiety or distress were observed between caregivers of individuals with SCZ or BD. |
28. Khatoon et al. [79] | India, psychiatric hospital | Cross-sectional | Burden | Total Objective Burden Score t(58) = 2.06, p < 0.05, d = 0.53 | - Caregivers of those with SCZ presented with significantly higher caregiver burden on subscales of total objective burden, subjective burden, financial burden, disruption to family activities, disruption to family leisure and disruption to family interaction. - There were no significant differences in caregiver burden observed between caregivers of individuals with SCZ or BD on the clinician-rated objective burden subscale, and burden subscales on effects on physical and mental health. |