Title | Dementia patient suffering and caregiver depression. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2008 |
Authors | Schulz, R, McGinnis, KA, Zhang, S, Martire, LM, Hebert, RS, Beach, SR, Zdaniuk, B, Czaja, SJ, Belle, SH |
Journal | Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord |
Volume | 22 |
Issue | 2 |
Pagination | 170-6 |
Date Published | 2008 Apr-Jun |
ISSN | 1546-4156 |
Keywords | Aged, Alzheimer Disease, Caregivers, Cross-Sectional Studies, Dementia, Depression, Female, Home Nursing, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Odds Ratio, Prevalence, Stress, Psychological, United States |
Abstract | <p>Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were carried out to assess the relationship between dementia patient suffering, caregiver depression, and antidepressant medication use in 1222 dementia patients and their caregivers. We assessed the prevalence of 2 types of patient suffering, emotional and existential distress, and examined their independent associations with caregiver depression and antidepressant medication use when controlling for sociodemographic characteristics of caregivers and patients, cognitive and physical disability of the patient, the frequency of patient memory problems and disruptive behaviors, and the amount of time spent caring for the patient. Multiple linear regression models showed that both aspects of perceived patient suffering independently contribute to caregiver depression (emotional distress: beta=1.24; P<0.001; existential distress: beta=0.66; P<0.01) whereas only existential suffering contributes to antidepressant medication use: odds ratio=1.25 95% confidence interval, 1.10-1.42; P<0.01. In longitudinal analyses, increases in both types of suffering were associated with increases in caregiver depression (emotional distress: beta=1.02; P<0.01; existential distress: beta=0.64; P<0.01). This is the first study to show in a large sample that perceived patient suffering independently contributes to family caregiver depression and medication use. Medical treatment of patients that maintain or improve memory but do not address suffering may have little impact on the caregiver. Alzheimer disease patient suffering should be systematically assessed and treated by clinicians.</p> |
DOI | 10.1097/WAD.0b013e31816653cc |
Alternate Journal | Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord |
PubMed ID | 18525290 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC2782456 |
Grant List | R01 AG015321 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States K08 AG019180-05 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 NR008272 / NR / NINR NIH HHS / United States MH071944 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States AG19180 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States P60 MD000207-019001 / MD / NIMHD NIH HHS / United States NR0009573 / NR / NINR NIH HHS / United States R24 HL076858 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States P30 AG024827 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States HL076858 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States K08 AG019180 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States AG015321 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 AG015321-10 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R24 HL076852 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States AG20677 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States P01 AG020677-02 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States U01 AG013305-08 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States P30 AG024827-06 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States P30 MH071944 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States MD000207 / MD / NIMHD NIH HHS / United States P30 MH071944-02 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States NR08272 / NR / NINR NIH HHS / United States HL076852 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States P01 AG020677 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R24 HL076858-05 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States R01 NR009573 / NR / NINR NIH HHS / United States P60 MD000207 / MD / NIMHD NIH HHS / United States R01 NR009573-03 / NR / NINR NIH HHS / United States AG13305 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States U01 AG013305 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States AG024827 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R24 HL076852-05 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States R01 NR008272-05 / NR / NINR NIH HHS / United States |