Depression and other psychiatric morbidity in carers of elderly people living at home.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the mental health of a community sample of carers of elderly people with dementia, depression, or physical disability and to compare that with the mental health of other adults living in the household and of those living alone.


METHODS
Assessment of psychiatric morbidity and physical disability with standardised questionnaire in randomly selected enumeration districts; subjects were interviewed at home.


METHODS
London Borough of Islington.


METHODS
700 people aged > or = 65 and other coresidents.


METHODS
Depression measured with standardised interview.


RESULTS
The prevalence of depression was not significantly higher in carers overall (15%) than in coresidents (11%). Being a woman carer was a significant predictor of psychiatric illness. Depression was more common in the carers of people with a psychiatric disorder than in coresidents (24% v 11%, P < 0.05) and in those living alone (19%). Depression was most common (47%) in women carers of people with dementia.


CONCLUSIONS
The increase in psychiatric morbidity reported in carers of people with psychiatric disorders may reflect the lack of a confiding relationship.
Livingston
G
G
Department of Psychiatry, University College London Medical School.
Manela
M
M
Katona
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003625:Data Collection; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence