title: Psychological morbidity in caregivers is associated with depression in patients with dementia.
abstract: The relationship between psychological morbidity in caregivers and depression in patients with dementia was examined using data collected on 193 patient-caregiver dyads attending a memory disorders clinic. Caregivers had high rates and levels of psychological morbidity which were associated with the severity of dementia (but neither the type nor duration), with the caregiver being a spouse and female and living with the person with dementia. A logistic regression analysis identified clinician-rated patient depression score and demanding problem behaviors as being independently and significantly associated with caregiver psychological morbidity. This new finding of a link between patient depression and caregiver psychological morbidity has implications for more focused treatment programs for both caregivers and patients.
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Psychogeriatrics, Prince Henry Hospital, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. research.adpg@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brodaty
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luscombe
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000523:psychology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003858:Dependency, Psychological; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology