IMPACT OF BRIEF PSYCHO-EDUCATION ON CAREGIVER BURDEN AMONG CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY IN A NIGERIAN PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL: A RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL.

Introduction: The effectiveness of Brief Psycho-education (BPE) is well-established among caregivers of adults with mental disorders, this is however not the case among caregivers of children and adolescents with Intellectual disability (ID) due to the dearth of data occasioned by relatively few studies in the area.

Objective: This study assessed the impact of BPE on Caregiver burden (CB) among caregivers of children and adolescents with ID.

Methodology: A single-blind RCT was conducted in the Child and Adolescent Clinic in the Psychiatric Hospital, Benin City. Randomization was done via a central computer system and group allocation via a third party. Family caregivers (n=58) were randomly assigned to intervention (n=29) and control (n=29) groups. Intervention and follow-up periods were 4 weeks each. Weekly BPE in addition to routine care (RC) was administered to the intervention group. The primary analysis was based on 58 participants (n=29; n=29) comparing CB in the two groups at the 4th week and 8th week post-intervention.

Results: Mean follow-up post-intervention showed a significant reduction in overall CB in the intervention group between 0 and 4th week (mean deviation 6.76, p=0.03) as well as, 4th and 8th week (mean deviation 12.35, p<0.001). For the CB dimensions, mean follow-up scores post-intervention reached a significant reduction in the 8th week for financial/physical strain factor (mean deviation 1.8, p=0.02), time/dependence strain factor (mean deviation 2.4, p<0.001), emotional strain factor (mean deviation 1.3, p<0001), uncertainty factor (mean deviation 1.45, p=0.004) and self-criticism factor (mean deviation 1.19, p<0.001).

Conclusion: BPE was superior to routine care in reducing CB among caregivers of Children and Adolescents with Intellectual disability.