Caring for self while caring for others: the two-track life of coping with Alzheimer's disease.
Relationships between depressive symptoms and altered immune function have been documented in the literature; however, the links between depressive symptoms, altered immune function, and changes in physical health are less clear. Although a number of caregiver descriptive studies have examined immunological outcomes, only one intervention study with caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease, known to the authors, has included immunological outcomes. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the effectiveness of a caregiver skill-building intervention to decrease caregiver depressive symptomatology and care-receiver behavioral symptoms; and to assess the feasibility and stability of the delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin test with this population. Caregiver depressive symptoms decreased, while care-receiver behaviors did not. Findings suggested that the DTH skin test could be successfully administered to caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and that this skin test had short-term stability. There were no significant relationships between caregiver depressive symptoms and immune function. Study findings suggest that nurses can play a pivotal role in intervening with family caregivers and potentially decreasing their depressive symptoms.
Farran
Carol J
CJ
Rush University College of Nursing, Rush Institute for Healthy Aging, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA.
Loukissa
Dimitra A
DA
Lindeman
David A
DA
McCann
Judith J
JJ
Bienias
Julia L
JL
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000544:Alzheimer Disease; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation