本研究立意選取草屯療養院門診病患家屬，以當面訪談的方式，至病患家中對主要照顧者進行面訪，共完成有效樣本 296 位。 研究結果顯示：主要照顧者多為女性，為患者的母親，年齡以 50 歲以上者居多。 病患多為男性，年齡集中在 20-39 歲，多為患有精神分裂症者。主要照顧有 59.8 ％認為經濟上需要醫療費用的補助；心理及生理的狀況尚可；而社會生活上，有 52.4 ％的主要照顧者認為受到影響。主要照顧者遇到的困難以照顧上的經濟困難、對病人的發病及預後情形不瞭解、與病人的溝通及協助病人恢復工作能力等五個困難最多。社會支持網絡的分佈，情緒性支持提供者多為配偶及朋友等非正式組織成員，而工具性支持主要是來自精神科醫生及護士。情緒性支持量的大小會受到照顧者的性別、照顧者和患者的關係及居家護理有無等三個因素影響。工具性支持量僅受到居家護理有無的影響，本研究証實居家護理方案的實施對病患照顧者的幫助。但對於社會支持對照顧者的需求之探討中，發現不論是情緒性支持或工具性支持，其對照顧者的經濟、生理、心理及社會生活等四項需求皆無減輕的效果。即支持量不足以減輕照顧者照顧的經濟困難、生理及心理的不良狀況和社會生活受影響的程度。

　　　　　296 primary caregivers of psychiatric patientswere investigated on their needs and social support, Results show that 59.8% ofthem think they need more money to care patients. Their psychological andphysical status are not bad, but 52.4% of them think their social lives areaffected. Over 50% of them encounter some difficulties in their caring, whichare financial problems of caring, not understanding the prognosis of patient'sdisease, having fear for the recurrence of patient's disease, having trouble incommunicating with patients and in helping patients be able to work. Socialsupport systems are divided into two dimensions in this study-emotional andinstrumental support. Most of emotional support networks are from caregivers'spouse, friends, children and relatives. But, instrumental support networks aremainly from psychiatric doctors and nurses. The amount of social support can notsignificantly influence caregivers' needfs. Sex, relationship between primarycaregiver and patient, and having home care program or not can influence theamount of emotional support. But, just having home care program or not caninfluence the amount of instrumental support.