There schizophrenia is an uncommon disease: experts estimate that around 1% of the world’s population is affected. Chronic and incurable, this mental pathology is linked to a dysfunction of the communications established in the brain : it has an impact on the thinking, feelings, emotions, perceptions and behavior of patients.
On the occasion of the Mental Health Information Weeks (SISM) which take place from March 13 to 26, 2017, the Janssen laboratory has just published the results of a European survey, carried out across 12 countries (including France) with 166 patients and 468 caregivers.
We learn in particular that 60% to 78% of people with schizophrenia are unemployed; 20% of schizophrenics in the world are homeless. In terms of treatments, 23% of adults affected by schizophrenia are dissatisfied with their current care (14% say they are “very dissatisfied”) and 21% of patients have never discussed the various possible therapeutic alternatives with their doctor, prior to the establishment of their current care.
“1 in 5 caregivers is so tired that they can no longer live normally”
This pan-European survey (entitled “Exchanges around the management of schizophrenia”) is particularly interested in the key role of caregivers, ie those close to patients. The main concerns of these are relapse and hospitalization (46%), the impact of the disease on daily activities (61%), the lack of support outside of drug treatment (41%), the the patient’s ability to ignore treatment reminders (30%) and the tendency to stop treatment as soon as the patient feels better (39%).
94% of caregivers must remind their sick loved one to take their treatment – 49% even have to do it often. Finally, 46% of caregivers are not satisfied with their level of involvement in therapeutic decisions…
Interviewed as part of the survey, Miia Männikko, President of the European Federation of Associations of Families of People with mental illness, specifies: “one carer in five is so tired that he can no longer live normally. It is essential that caregivers are also informed of the treatment options available, so that they can contribute to decision-making regarding the care of their loved one”.
Source: Janssen press release.
