Recurrent depressive symptomatology and physical health: a 10-year study of informal caregivers of persons with dementia.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the degree to which recurrent depressive symptomatology predicts the decline in the health status of a randomly derived national sample of caregivers of persons with dementia.


METHODS
Individuals with dementia and their caregivers were recruited from each Canadian province as part of a national epidemiologic study of dementia prevalence and the health and welfare of care providers. Both patients and caregivers were assessed at 3 points over a 10-year period. Cohabiting family members who shared the same residence as care recipients were selected for the current study (n = 96 pairs). We computed a repeated measures analysis of variance to compare the health of caregivers who were consistently asymptomatic for depression, of those symptomatic at 1 of 3 points of measurement, and of those symptomatic at 2 of 3 points.


RESULTS
As hypothesized, caregivers presenting with elevated depressive symptomatology at multiple points of measurement reported poorer and worsening physical health over time.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study support the assertion that depressive symptomatology significantly predicts the decline in health status of caregivers of persons with dementia. Concerted effort to treat depression in this population is warranted to forestall this trajectory of decline and premature patient institutionalization.
Department of Gerontology, Simon Frazer University-Vancouver Campus, Bristish Columbia. ORourke@sfu.ca
Norm
N
O'Rourke
Philippe
P
Cappeliez
Eva
E
Neufeld
D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003704:Dementia; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors