Editorial
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World J Psychiatr. Dec 22, 2013; 3(4): 85-92
Published online Dec 22, 2013. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v3.i4.85
Cultural aspects of caregiver burden in psychiatric disorders
Subho Chakrabarti
Subho Chakrabarti, Department of Psychiatry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India
Author contributions: Chakrabarti S solely contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Subho Chakrabarti, MD, MAMS, FRCPsych, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector 12, Chandigarh 160012, India. subhochd@yahoo.com
Telephone: +91-172-2756808 Fax: +91-172-2744401
Received: August 23, 2013
Revised: October 21, 2013
Accepted: November 15, 2013
Published online: December 22, 2013
Processing time: 141 Days and 8.5 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: The cultural context shapes the entirety of the caregiving experience and its outcomes. Important differences have been identified in the extent of caregiving, caregiver burden and distress, attitudes and norms influencing caregiving, appraisal, coping, help-seeking, and social support, between caregivers belonging to diverse ethnic and cultural groups. Familial-cultural factors seem to be the principal determinants of caregiving outcomes, though they appear to influence burden and distress in complicated, and yet unclear ways. Since an understanding of the role of culture in caregiving is an essential first step towards helping lower burden among caregivers from different cultural and ethnic groups, more research is required in this area.