Objective: The aim of this study was to compare financial burden of parents and spouses, whose relative is suffering from schizophrenia. The first article (part I) draws attention to quantitative analysis.
Method: 51 parents and 52 spouses filled in the questionnaire about illness related expenses and financial loss; additionally they were asked to estimate the experienced burden on a subjective dimension.
Results: Direct cash expenditures on behalf of the patients' illness were reported by 63 % spouses and 69 % parents. Above all, the patient's reduced ability to work was seen as main cause for long-term loss of family income. In general economic disadvantages were not considered as burdensome.
Discussion: Although most parents and spouses of schizophrenic patients experience illness related financial disadvantages, it seems that these costs were usually not defined as serious problem. For a better understanding of this finding further analysis of the subjective perspective on perceived financial burden is needed (see part II).