Caregiver Depression in a Low-Resource Setting: Socio-Demographic Predictors of Major Depressive Disorder Among Family Caregivers of Breast Cancer Patients in Pakistan

Rahmah Health Foundation402 enrolled

Overview

This cross-sectional study aims to assess the prevalence of depression among primary caregivers of breast cancer patients within low-resource country like Pakistan. Caregiving for individuals with breast cancer can be physically and emotionally demanding, often leading to psychological distress, including depression. However, there is limited data from low- and middle-income countries, including Pakistan, where caregivers may face additional socioeconomic and systemic burdens. This study seeks to quantify the burden of depression in this population and explore associated sociodemographic and caregiving-related factors. Findings will help inform psychosocial support strategies and interventions to improve caregiver well-being in resource-constrained environments.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

402

Conditions

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 15 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Primary caregiver of a patient diagnosed with breast cancer at any stage 2. Male or female caregiver 3. Aged 15 years or older 4. Providing physical, emotional, or financial support to the patient 5. Willing to give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: 1. Paid caregivers (professional or hired help) 2. Age under 15 years 3. Unwilling to provide consent or participate in the study 4. Incomplete or missing essential data required for analysis

Locations (4)

Ayub Teaching Hospital

Abbottabad, Pubjab, Pakistan

Nishtar Medical University and Hospital

Multan, Punjab Province, Pakistan

Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center

Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan

Benazir Bhutto Hospital

Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Prevalence of depression among caregivers of breast cancer patients

Depression will be assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), a validated screening tool. The PHQ-9 consists of 9 items, each scored from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day), for a total score range of 0 to 27. Higher scores indicate worse depressive symptoms. Depression severity will be categorized as follows: 0-4: Minimal 5-9: Mild 10-14: Moderate 15-19: Moderately Severe 20-27: Severe The proportion of caregivers falling into each category will be reported.

Time frame: At a single time point during caregiver recruitment (cross-sectional assessment within 6 months of study initiation)