Aim of the study:
1.To assess and compare the burden of care and psychiatric morbidity in caregivers of patients with schizophrenia and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). 2.To study burden with relation to socio-demographic characteristics and disease related factors.

Subject or material and methods:
Study was conducted at tertiary care general hospital psychiatry department in India.Fifty consecutive patients and their primary caregivers each, of schizophrenia and OCD, were assessed. Burden of care was assessed by Family Burden Interview Schedule (FBIS). Psychiatric morbidity was assessed by General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28). The collected data was analyzed by SPSS, Chi-Square test, T-test and Pearson correlation.

Results:
Burden of care was higher in caregivers of schizophrenia in 5 domains - Financial burden, Disruption of family routine, Disruption of family leisure, Disruption of family interaction and Effect on physical health. However, statistically significant higher score was observed only for domain of disruption of family routine. Caregivers with schizophrenia had higher psychiatric morbidity but anxiety and insomnia were significantly higher in caregivers of OCD. Suicidality was significantly higher in caregivers of schizophrenia. Spouses of schizophrenia had higher burden and distress. As family burden increased, psychiatric morbidity in caregiver also increased.

Discussion:
OCD imposes considerable burden on caregivers comparable to that of schizophrenia. Both disorders cause significant psychosocial problems for the family.

Conclusions:
Though the extent of burden of care and psychiatric morbidity were higher in caregivers of schizophrenia, caregivers of OCD had also considerable burden of care as well as psychiatric morbidity. Key words: Schizophrenia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Caregiver, Burden