Caregiver burden in forensic mental health settings: social impacts on caregivers of individuals with severe mental disorders.

Caregivers of individuals with severe mental disorders face profound challenges, particularly when patients have criminal histories. Social functioning and perceived social support are central to caregiver burden. This cross-sectional study investigated the role of sociodemographic, illness-related, social, and support factors in 160 family caregivers of forensic inpatients. The Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and Social Adaptation Self-Evaluation Scale were used. Caregivers exposed to patient violence reported greater burden (β = -.69, p < .001). Social functioning was a strong negative predictor (β = -.43, p < .001). Family support moderated the association between social functioning and caregiver burden, amplifying its protective role, whereas perceived support alone was not a direct predictor. Overall, social functioning emerged as the strongest determinant of caregiver burden, with family support reinforcing its impact.