The purpose of this research was to study the sress level and coping strategies in among the caregivers of the two groups of chronic schizophernic patients and chronic dialysis patients. The sample consisted of 20 caregiveres who were mothers, wives, husbands, and children of the patients. They were selected from patients records in the clinics of the city of Shiraz. The subjects were matched for age, family income, number of family members, and educational level and requested to complete QRS-SF, CS-R checklist, and MMPI.

The findings indicated no significant differences in the stress level and coping strategies of either group. Nor it revealed any significant difference in the level of mental disorders. In the study groups.

Patients' sex also had no efect on the level of stress expressed the study did not find any relationship between the level of stress and the gender of the subjects.

However, when caregivers of schizophernic patients were examined by MMPI females, scores of D, Hy, Pt higher than males scores for these scales. Moreover stress level of those who cared for schizophernic patients with negative symptoms were higher than the caregivers of those with positive symptoms.