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Table 2 Characteristics of caregiver participants (N = 27) and care recipients

From: Experiences, attitudes, and perceptions of caregivers of individuals with treatment-resistant schizophrenia: a qualitative study

Characteristics

Total (N = 27a)

Caregiver characteristics

 Caregiver’s age, mean (SD)

48 (11.2)

Caregiver’s sex, n (%)

 Male

6 (22)

 Female

21 (78)

Caregiver’s race/ethnicity, n (%)

 Caucasian

14 (52)

 African American

10 (37)

 Hispanic

1 (4)

 Asian

2 (7)

Caregiver’s relationship to patient, n (%)

 Sibling

8 (30)

 Parent

5 (19)

 Adult child

3 (11)

 Spouse/significant otherb

5 (19)

 Other family member

3 (11)

 Friend or other

3 (11)

Caregiver’s education level, n (%)

 Some college

8 (30)

 College degree

16 (59)

 Postgraduate

3 (11)

Caregiver’s employment status, n (%)

 Full time

17 (63)

 Part time

4 (15)

 Retired

1 (4)

 Unemployed

4 (15)

 Student

1 (4)

Care recipients’ characteristicsc

 Patient age, mean (SD)

46.9 (18.6)

Patient gender, n (%)

 Male

16 (59)

 Female

11 (41)

Years since schizophrenia diagnosis, mean (SD)

18.4 (14.1)

Years since schizophrenia diagnosis, n (%)

  < 5 years

5 (19)

 5–10 years

6 (22)

 11–15 years

4 (15)

  ≥ 16 years

12 (44)

Patients’ living situation, n (%)

 With caregiver

14 (52)

 With family

7 (26)

 Alone

4 (15)

 Other

2 (7)

Patient education level, n (%)

 Less than or equal to high school

15 (56)

 Some college

6 (22)

 College degree

6 (22)

Patient employment status, n (%)

 Full time

2 (7)

 Part time

5 (19)

 Unemployed

17 (63)

 Retired

3 (11)

Comorbid psychiatric disorders,d n (%)

 Depression

7 (26)

 Anxiety

7 (26)

 Bipolar

7 (26)

 Major mood disorder

1 (4)

 Major depressive disorder

3 (11)

 Other schizophrenia-related disorderse

4 (15)

Patients’ comorbid somatic conditions,f n (%)

 High blood pressure

7 (26)

 Overweight

8 (30)

 Diabetes

5 (19)

Current AP treatment

 AP monotherapy

20 (74%)

  Atypical AP

15 (56)

  Typical AP

5 (19)

 AP combination therapy

7 (26%)

  2 atypical APs

3 (11)

  2 atypical APs and 1 typical AP

2 (7)

  1 atypical AP and 1 typical AP

1 (4)

  3 typical APs

1 (4)

  1. AP antipsychotic medication, SD standard deviation
  2. aOne caregiver provided care for an individual whom the participant reported as having been stable for 1 year on current treatment
  3. bIncludes the live-in caretaker (former wife) of an individual with treatment-related schizophrenia
  4. cAs reported by caregivers
  5. dAll diagnosed before schizophrenia diagnosis. Some patients had more than one psychiatric disorder
  6. eRelated disorders include schizoaffective or schizophreniform disorders, schizotypal personality disorder, and brief psychotic disorder
  7. fSome patients had more than one comorbid condition