[Factors associated with anxiety and taking psychotropic drugs in caregivers of incapacitated patients].
OBJECTIVE
To identify factors associated with the possibility of suffering anxiety and the taking of medicine for psychological reasons by carers for disabled patients.


METHODS
A descriptive crossover study.


METHODS
Carranque Health District, Málaga.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 53 carers for disabled patients. Unidentifiable carers, carers incapable of replying to the evaluation test and carers for people disabled for less than 6 months were excluded.


RESULTS
Multiple linear regression showed significant connection between scoring in the STAI test (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), the availability of support for the carer, and the family relationship of the carer and the disabled person. The mean score in the test for the 22 carers receiving support was 27.09, against a mean of 34.48 for the 31 others. The mean score in the STAI when carer and disabled person had a first-degree family relationship was 33.05, against 27.26 when there was a second-degree family relationship. STAI scores were higher among the carers taking medicine for psychological reasons (38.59). The taking of medicine for psychological reasons, analysed by logistic regression, displayed no association with any other variable.


CONCLUSIONS
The anxiety of the carer is greater when he/she has no support and when the disabled person is a close relative. Consumption of medicine for psychological reasons is in parallel relationship to the STAI anxiety test.
García Lozano
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Zona Básica del Centro de Salud de Carranque y Distrito Málaga-Oeste, Málaga.
González de Quevedo
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CP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005192:Family Health; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012044:Regression Analysis
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs