Behaviour disturbance and other predictors of carer burden in Alzheimer's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate predictors of carer burden in Alzheimer's disease (AD).


METHODS
Two cohorts were formed, one comprising AD patients, the other comprising their primary carers. The relationship of patient and carer variables to carer burden was investigated.


METHODS
An urban hospital memory clinic.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 50 patients meeting NINCDS-ADRDA for probable AD, age range 60-87, and their primary carers, age range 31-84.


METHODS
The Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Baumgarten et al. Dementia Behaviour Disturbance Scale, the Blessed-Roth Dementia Scale, the Personal Self-Maintenance Scale, the Zarit Burden Interview and the Vaux et al. Social Support Appraisals (SS-A) and Social Support Behaviours (SS-B) Scales.


RESULTS
Daughters were particularly prone to burden. Neither patient cognitive nor functional status predicted burden. Behaviour disturbance in particular, and informal support were significant, but independent, predictors of carer burden.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study increased carer burden was related independently to increased levels of patient behaviour disturbance and decreased levels of informal social support. This may have relevance to appropriate interventions for carers. As the study was based on a convenience sample of memory clinic attenders, replication in less highly selected samples is desirable.
Coen
R F
RF
Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing (MIRA), St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Swanwick
G R
GR
O'Boyle
C A
CA
Coakley
D
D
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support