The Phobic Trust of New Zealand has worked closely with Auckland University and Massey University to achieve research reports below:

• The Stress of Caring for People with Obsessive Compulsive Disorders - Tannis M. Laidlaw; Ian R H Falloon; Denise Barnfather; John H Coverdale Community Mental Health Journal; Oct 1999; 35,5; ABI/INFORM Global pg.443

  ABSTRACT: This paper presents a survey of stress of key carers of 46 consecutive cases of chronic obsessive-compulsive disorders who were receiving combined drug and cognitive-behavioural therapy in an out-patient clinic. A reliable semi-structured interview was used to estimate the overall stresses in various aspects of life. The effects of the disorder were most commonly expressed by carers in their marital relationship and in home management. Twenty-eight percent were severly burdened by their carer role, and 35% were extremely distressed at the prospect of ongoing care provision. Caregivers require support, and may be consumers of mental health services themselves.

• National Drug Policy Discretionary Grant Fund, Phase One - Produced by Tannis M Laidlaw, Phd, 30th September 2006.

  Project Title: Prevalence of Co-exisiting substance use disorders and independently occurring anxiety, and mood disorders in New Zealand subjects presenting for treatment at the Phobic Trust's Anxiety Disorders Clinics.

The prevalence of self-medication with alcohol or non-prescribed drugs in independently occurring anxiety and mood disorders: A retrospective review.

Statistics on Anxiety Disorders

Between 15 & 18% of any country in the world suffers from severe anxiety, phobic and compulsive disorders. Recent research has established that 23% of all suicide can be attributed to the Anxiety Disorders - src: Annette Beautrais, Christchurch suicide study. In 1992 suicide was the leading cause of death for males aged 25 to 44. Over the past decade the Non-Maori death rate from suicide for 15 to 24 year olds increased by 100 percent.

The Stress of Care Giving

The stress of care-giving is a recently acknowledged phenomenon that has been largely ignored while mental health services have shifted from hospital-based to community-based care. Although the benefits of community care are undisputed from the client’s point of view, the increased burden on family and other caregivers is an uncomfortably thought.