Caregiver burden and depression among informal caregivers of HIV-infected individuals.
BACKGROUND
Few studies have examined the factors associated with depression in informal caregivers of HIV-infected persons.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between depression and caregiver burden among informal caregivers of HIV-infected individuals.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study using baseline data from an ongoing randomized trial of a supportive telephone intervention.


METHODS
One hundred seventy-six dyads of HIV patients and their informal caregiver.


METHODS
Depression was defined as a Beck Depression Inventory >10. A Caregiver Strain Index >6 identified informal caregivers with a high caregiver burden. We used logistic regression to identify characteristics that were associated with depression in the informal caregiver.


RESULTS
Informal caregivers were 42 years old (SD, 13), 53% female, 59% nonwhite, and 30% had education beyond high school. Forty-seven percent of informal caregivers were the patient's partner, 18% a friend, and 35% a family member. Twenty-seven percent of informal caregivers had a high caregiver burden, and 50% were depressed. We found significantly greater odds of informal caregiver depression with high caregiver burden (OR, 6.08; 95% CI, 2.40 to 15.4), informal caregiver medical comorbidity besides HIV (OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.09 to 4.92), spending all day together (OR, 3.92; 95% CI, 1.59 to 9.69), having to help others besides the HIV patient (OR, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.14 to 5.74), and duration of the HIV patient's diagnosis (OR, 1.01 per month; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.01).


CONCLUSIONS
High caregiver burden was strongly associated with depression among HIV-infected individuals' informal caregivers, who themselves had difficult life circumstances. Informal caregivers of HIV patients may be in need of both mental health services and assistance in caregiving.
Division of General Internal Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI 02903, USA. ppirraglia@lifespan.org
Paul A
PA
Pirraglia
Duane
D
Bishop
Debra S
DS
Herman
Elizabeth
E
Trisvan
Rosalie A
RA
Lopez
Christopher S
CS
Torgersen
Ann Marie
AM
Van Hof
Bradley J
BJ
Anderson
Ivan
I
Miller
Michael D
MD
Stein
D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires