Abstract:Objective To understand the mental status of family caregivers for severe mental disorder patients and potential interventions for depression of caregivers. Methods Totally 300 family caregivers for severe mental disorder patients were involved and randomly divided into intervention group (150 cases) and blank control group (150 cases). Intervention group members received psychological intervention through lecture and discusses provided by psychiatric physician monthly for 6 months. Family members received Self-Rating Depression Scale test before and after mental intervention. Logistic regression was adopted in data analysis. Results The positive rate of depressive tendency among family caregivers for severe mental disorder patients were 75.67%. Depression rate was closely associated with the age (P < 0.05), vocation (P < 0.05), sex (P < 0.05), education level (P < 0.05) and the emotional relationship with patients (P < 0.05). Agedness, high education level, female, and prolonged course were major risk factors for depression. The protective factors were high income, remote relationship with patients and free medical treatment. The depressive scores was lowered post psychiatric intervention when compared with control group or that prior to any intervention (P < 0.05). Conclusions Positive rate of depressive tendency is high among family caregivers for severe mental disorder patients. The professional psychological intervention effectively improves the psychological status of family caregivers.