Psychological morbidity in caregivers is associated with depression in patients with dementia

Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 1998 Jun;12(2):62-70. doi: 10.1097/00002093-199806000-00002.

Abstract

The relationship between psychological morbidity in caregivers and depression in patients with dementia was examined using data collected on 193 patient-caregiver dyads attending a memory disorders clinic. Caregivers had high rates and levels of psychological morbidity which were associated with the severity of dementia (but neither the type nor duration), with the caregiver being a spouse and female and living with the person with dementia. A logistic regression analysis identified clinician-rated patient depression score and demanding problem behaviors as being independently and significantly associated with caregiver psychological morbidity. This new finding of a link between patient depression and caregiver psychological morbidity has implications for more focused treatment programs for both caregivers and patients.

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Behavioral Symptoms / psychology
  • Caregivers / psychology*
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Cost of Illness
  • Dementia / complications
  • Dementia / psychology*
  • Dependency, Psychological
  • Depression / complications
  • Depression / psychology*
  • Female
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • New South Wales / epidemiology
  • Residence Characteristics
  • Risk Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sex Factors
  • Spouses / psychology
  • Stress, Psychological / epidemiology*
  • Stress, Psychological / etiology