Psicothema, 2012. Vol. Vol. 24 (nº 2). 255-262

José Gutiérrez-Maldonado¹, Alejandra Caqueo-Urízar², Marta Ferrer-García¹ y Paula Fernández-Dávila²

Se describe la percepción de apoyo y el funcionamiento social de pacientes con esquizofrenia y sus cuidadores principales, y su relación con la calidad de vida. Participaron 45 pacientes y 45 familiares atendidos por los Servicios de Salud Mental de Arica, Chile. Tanto los pacientes como los cuidadores presentan una percepción pobre de apoyo social por parte de personas extra-familiares, así como una escasa integración social. No obstante, los pacientes muestran adecuadas capacidades para desenvolverse dentro de su ambiente familiar inmediato. A diferencia de lo encontrado en países desarrollados, estos pacientes muestran niveles moderados de calidad de vida, con una fuerte relación con la percepción de apoyo social y con la capacidad de establecer y mantener contactos sociales. La calidad de vida de los cuidadores principales se relaciona con la capacidad de los pacientes para establecer y mantener contactos sociales dentro del grupo familiar, en otras instancias sociales, y en el mantenimiento de un empleo. Los resultados del estudio sugieren la necesidad de considerar el funcionamiento social de los pacientes con esquizofrenia, y su integración familiar y comunitaria como un objetivo central en los programas de apoyo para estos pacientes y sus cuidadores.

Influence of perceived social support and functioning on the quality of life of patients with schizophrenia and their caregivers. Perception of social support and functioning of patients with schizophrenia and their primary caregivers and its relationship to quality of life are described. Forty-five patients and their 45 relatives, treated at the Mental Health Services in Arica, Chile, participated. Both patients and caregivers in the study have a poor perception of social support with regard to extra-family people, as well as a low social integration. However, patients showed adequate capacity to function within their immediate family. Unlike what was found in developed countries, these patients showed moderate levels of quality of life, with a strong relationship with perceptions of the social support they receive from family and significant others and the ability to establish and maintain social contacts. Quality of life of primary caregivers is linked to patients´ ability to establish and maintain social contacts within the family group, as in other social instances, such as keeping a job. The results of the study suggest the need to consider the design and application of programs of support for these patients and their caregivers, with the central aim of the social functioning of the above-mentioned patients and their familiar and community integration.