Il Burden del caregiver informale di persone con schizofrenia : Creazione e validazione della Italian Modified Perceived Family Burden Scale (I-MPFBS) = Burden on caregivers of people with schizophrenia: creation and validation of Italian Modified Perceived Family Burden Scale (I-MPFBS)

Background Schizophrenia is a serious psychiatric disorder that affects both the patients and their informal caregivers. The resulting psychological discomfort or burden could have serious repercussions on the carer, and consequently on the patient. The Perceived Family Burden Scale (PFBS) is a valid and reliable tool aimed at preventing disease relapse, but it has never been used to investigate the overall burden level in a population of informal caregivers of schizophrenic persons. The study aims to investigate burden levels in a sample of informal caregivers of schizophrenic patients by creating and validating the Italian Modified Perceived Family Burden Scale (I-MPFBS). Methods PFBS was translated and modified; the tool was administered to a sample of informal caregivers accessing to Psychosocial centres of Mental Health Department at Santi Paolo e Carlo hospital, Milan. Results The I-MPFBS has a high content and face validity (CVI-S=0.95) and good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha=0.78). The 62 informal caregivers had an overall median burden score of 118/200 (IQR: 99;135). The objective burden median score was 35/100 (IQR: 24; 46). The subjective burden median score was 81/100 (IQR: 72; 88). Conclusions The I-MPFBS is a valid, reliable, quick, and easy-to-use tool that supports nursing assessment of the informal caregiver and of the patient.