Stress in caregivers of aphasic stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Communication difficulties due to aphasia following stroke are particularly stressful to caregivers.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the impact of a psychoeducation programme on caregivers' burden and stress and communication between the caregiver and aphasic stroke patient.


METHODS
Randomized wait-list controlled trial with immediate or three-month delayed treatment.


METHODS
Three public hospital rehabilitation services in Sydney, Australia.


METHODS
Thirty-nine caregivers of aphasic stroke patients, up to 12 months post stroke: 19 given immediate treatment and 20 in a delayed treatment control group.


METHODS
Four-session weekly caregiver programme that included elements of education, support and communication skills conducted by a speech pathologist, social worker and clinical psychologist.


METHODS
The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was used to measure caregiver stress, the Relatives' Stress Scale was used to measure caregiver burden and a communication questionnaire was designed specifically for this project.


RESULTS
Thirty-one caregivers completed the study. Caregivers in the immediate treatment group had significant reductions in GHQ measured stress (GHQ mean (SD) at baseline= 6.26 (5.67), GHQ post treatment 3.21 (SD 4.20), P = 0.006). There was no improvement in wait-listed caregivers. Improvement was not maintained at three-month follow-up. There were no significant effects of the programme on communication skills or on caregiver burden.


CONCLUSIONS
Stroke caregiver support, education and training programmes have short-term effects on caregiver stress levels but are likely to require ongoing involvement to maintain their effect.
Draper
Brian
B
Academic Department for Old Age Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney and Department of Psychiatry and School of Public Health & Community Medicine, University Of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. b.draper@unsw.edu.au
Bowring
Greg
G
Thompson
Claire
C
Van Heyst
Jocelyn
J
Conroy
Philip
P
Thompson
Julie
J
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001037:Aphasia / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003858:Dependency, Psychological; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014850:Waiting Lists