Validity and the cultural adaptation of the Carer's Needs Assessment for Schizophrenia and assessing the needs of family members of bipolar mood disorder and schizophrenia spectrum patients

One of the main issues in mental health system is the assessment of patients and their carers’ needs. The objective of this study was to determine the validity and the cultural adaptation of the Carers’ Needs Assessment for Schizophrenia (CNA-S) and assessing the needs of families of bipolar and schizophrenia spectrum patients. CAN-S is included 18 items of carers’ needs. After translation, all items of test were discussed between two different focus groups (psychiatrists and families of patients). Then a semi-structured interview according to the final questionnaire was performed in 50 family members of patients (diagnosed bipolar disorder and schizophrenia spectrum) selected by available sampling. Data was analyzed using SPSS-17 and descriptive statistical methods, alpha Cronbach's Alpha and Kruskal Wallis tests. No item was omitted or added by each focus group. Based on CAN-S-Farsi version, 79.88% of families of patients considered all of the 18 items as “serious and severe” and 92.84% of them considered at least one of the suggested interventions as helpful for each problem.There was no significant difference among needs of three groups of the family members of patients with diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or schizoaffective except in one item.Cultural adaptation of this instrument could assess the needs and possible interventions for families of patients with severe mental disorder. The questionnaire may be useful for the researcher in future studies as well as professionals working in mental health field.