App Icoon
Psychological distress in informal caregivers of patients with dementia
Psychological distress in informal caregivers of patients with dementia in primary care: course and determinants
De abstractcommissie heeft op verzoek van de congrescommissie negen abstracts geselecteerd die tijdens het Verenso najaarscongres 'Start & Stop' op 26 november 2015 middels een flitspresentatie gepresenteerd worden. Onderstaande abstract is daar een van.
Purpose
In this study we aimed to investigate the course and determinants of psychological distress in informal caregivers of patients with dementia in primary care.
Methods
This was a prospective observational cohort study with 18 months of follow-up. Data were collected at baseline, after 9 and 18 months. We assessed cognition and neuropsychiatric symptoms of the patient (MMSE and NPI) and psychological distress (SCQ, CES-D and GHQ-12) of the informal caregivers. Determinants for the course of psychological distress were caregivers’ age, gender and relationship with the patient, patients’ cognition and neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), participation in a care program and admission to long term care facilities (LTCF). With linear mixed models the course over time for psychological distress and its determinants were explored.
Results
We included 117 informal caregivers. Results showed that 23.1% had a high risk for depression and 41.0% were identified to be likely to have mental problems at baseline and we found a stable pattern of psychological distress over time. Higher frequency of NPS, informal caregivers’ age between 50-70 years and being female and spouse were associated with higher psychological distress. For patients who were admitted to a LTCF during the study psychological distress of the informal caregivers improved.
Conclusions
General practitioners should focus on NPS in patients with dementia and on caregivers’ psychological distress and be aware of their risk for depression and mental problems; specifically to those who are spouse, female or between 50-70 years of age.
Auteur(s)
- Petra Borsje, specialist ouderengeneeskunde
Co-auteurs
- M. Hems, Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- P.L.J.B. Lucassen, Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- J.H.J. Bor, Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- R.T.C.M. Koopmans, Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, Joachim and Anna, Center for specialized geriatric care, Nijmegen, Radboud Alzheimer Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- A.M. Pot, Department of Clinical Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Australia