Abstract

Community-based treatments prevailing in mental disorders have resulted in prolonged periods spent with families outside of inpatientinstitutionsandmoreactive role takenbyfamilies in thecare of patients. Undesiredeventsanddifficultiesduetothediseaseaffectfamilymembersandcreatefamilyburden. Theburdenundertakenbythecaregivermaycausedepression, anxiety, burnout, deterioration of physicalhealth, socialisolationandeconomichardship. Obsessivecompulsivedisorder (OCD) is a chronicmentaldisorderranked in the top ten of themostdisablingmedicalconditionsworldwide. Specifically, it is reportedthattheburden of thecaregiver in obsessivecompulsivedisorder is as severe as thatundertaken in schizophreniaorbipolardisorder. Familyinterventionshould not be limitedtoinpatientperiodand it mustkept in mindthatfamiliesneedhelp at everystage of thedisease. Therefore, in obsessivecompulsivedisordercases, there is a clearneedforpsychoeducationalinterventiondirected at familycaregivers. Thisreviewaimsto set forththeimportance of theburden of careundertakenbyfamilycaregivers of patientswithobsessivecompulsivedisorderandpsychoeducationprovidedtothem.