In-home respite intervention reduces plasma epinephrine in stressed Alzheimer caregivers.
OBJECTIVE
Some excess morbidity and mortality in Alzheimer caregivers (CGs) may be related to chronic activation of the sympatho-adrenal-medullary (SAM) system. Authors tested the efficacy of an in-home respite intervention to reduce peripheral markers of SAM activation and psychological distress in spousal caregivers of patients with Alzheimer disease.


METHODS
Caregivers were classified as Vulnerable (n = 27) or Non-Vulnerable (n = 28). Vulnerable CGs were those with a severe mismatch between caregiving demand and help received in the preceding 6 months. CGs had plasma catecholamine levels sampled at rest and in response to a stressor (speech task) before and 1 month after a 2-week in-home respite intervention. Self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression were also obtained.


RESULTS
ANOVA revealed a group x treatment interaction: At the 1-month follow-up, plasma epinephrine declined significantly in the vulnerable caregivers who received respite, but rose in those who were wait-listed. No effect was found for norepinephrine, heart rate, blood pressure, or psychological symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that an in-home respite program may reduce SAM activation independent of psychological symptoms. To the extent that sympathetic activation mediates pathophysiological events, these results suggest an approach that may reduce morbidity and mortality in certain caregivers.
Grant
Igor
I
Department of Psychiatry (0680), University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0680, USA.
McKibbin
Christine L
CL
Taylor
Michael J
MJ
Mills
Paul
P
Dimsdale
Joel
J
Ziegler
Michael
M
Patterson
Thomas L
TL
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D018577:Homebound Persons; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012144:Respite Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004837:Epinephrine