Factors Associated with Caregiver Burden in Caregivers of Patients with Seizure Disorders

Abstract

Seizures are among the most prevalent neurological disorders in children and adults. Family caregivers often face a considerable burden in providing care. Given that caregiver burden is influenced by various factors, this review explores factors associated with caregiver burden among families of individuals with seizure disorders.

This review was conducted by searching Elsevier, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and PubMed for publications between 2014 and 2024. The initial search yielded 40 articles, and after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 13 studies were included in the final analysis.

Caregiver burden is influenced by multiple factors, including caregiver-related characteristics such as age, gender, marital status, education level, weekly caregiving hours, number of caregivers in the household, resilience, anxiety, sleep quality, overall health, and financial and emotional family support. Patient-related factors include age, level of dependence, duration of illness, cognitive impairments, comorbidities, epilepsy type and severity, and polypharmacy. Caregiving-related factors also contribute, such as traditional values, health policies, availability of resources, caregiver training and safety, treatment adherence, follow-up processes, and duration of caregiving.

The findings suggest that reducing caregiver burden can improve care quality. Implementing support services and financial assistance may improve outcomes. Addressing caregivers’ psychological needs through education, counseling, and psychosocial interventions may further reduce caregiving challenges.