Mindfulness and Support Group to Improve Patient and Caregiver Burden in Cirrhosis

Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis pose a huge financial burden to the health care system. This includes the cost of medical care, employment, disability-related issues and reduced survival. Specifically, the complication of cirrhosis known as hepatic encephalopathy (HE) especially hinders quality of life, the performance of activities of daily living and the ability to drive a motor vehicle in affected subjects. The hidden burden to family members and caregivers of these subjects, however, has been all but ignored to date. Evaluation of family members and caregivers is essential. The burden of caring for someone with liver disease can result in added cost for health care for family members and caregivers and is typically not recognized. The importance of the burden to families and family members or caregivers resulting from other neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's has been well evaluated and specific strategies to educate and counsel family members and caregivers have been elaborated. This is important because as the findings of this study have emerged, we have found that both Veterans and non-Veterans with cirrhosis and HE have a poor quality of life, worse socio-economic status and place a significantly higher burden on their family members or caregivers than those without HE