[Mental and behavior disorders in the aged: attempt at classification and relationship with caregivers' burden].
BACKGROUND
To measure the relation between different disorders of the elderly and the carer's burden.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was carried out by a questionnaire administered to carers of dependent elderly living at home. Mental and behavioral disorders were measured by the Zarit "Memory and behavior problems check list" (MBPC); carer's burden was measured with the Zarit "Burden Inventory" (BI). A principal components analysis was performed to make groups of disorders with the MBPC items and the relation between these groups and the carers' burden was determined by a multiple regression analysis.


RESULTS
The analysis was performed with 190 files. Six groups of disorders were individualized: memory and orientation problems, aggressive or dangerous behaviors, regressive behaviors, disruptive behaviors, wandering, mood disturbance and agitation. These 6 factors explain 43.2% of the variance of the carer's burden. Each factor is linked to the BI score and 3 behavioral typologies are specially related to the carers BI: regressive behaviors (R = 0.49), disruptive behaviors (R = 0.51), and mood disturbance with agitation (R = 0.53).


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that it is possible to differentiate specific behavioral typologies in elderly, which explain a limited part of the carer's burden.
Bocquet
H
H
CJF INSERM 94-06. Département d'Epidémiologie. Economie de la Santé et Santé Communautaire, Faculté de Médecine, Toulouse.
Charlet
J P
JP
Pous
J
J
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000374:Aggression; D017028:Caregivers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016014:Linear Models; D008569:Memory Disorders; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification; D019964:Mood Disorders; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires