Responsiveness over Duration: Family Caregiver–Patient Interaction Patterns in Digitally Supported Schizophrenia Care

Digital platforms enhance family involvement in in community-based psychiatric care, with nurses playing a central role in coordinating these interventions. However, little is known about which specific patterns of caregiver–patient interaction contribute most to functional recovery. This retrospective observational study investigated how patterns of digitally supported caregiver–patient interaction—frequency, duration, and responsiveness—are associated with functional recovery and caregiver burden in schizophrenia. Digital engagement was quantified via objective system logs (contact frequency, video consultation duration, and response latency). Functional recovery was measured using the Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scale. Data were analysed using linear mixed-effects models, adjusting for baseline characteristics. Higher caregiver responsiveness, indicated by shorter response latency (β = −0.43, p < 0.001), and increased frequency of digital contacts (β = 1.29, p = 0.013) were significantly associated with improved PSP scores. Conversely, cumulative duration of video consultations showed no independent association with functional recovery (p = 0.318). Higher engagement also correlated with significantly reduced caregiver burden on the Zarit Burden Interview. The findings suggest that patterns of caregiver–patient interaction, particularly timely responsiveness and regular contact, may be more closely associated with functional recovery than the overall duration of digital communication.