title: Depression in family caregivers of cancer patients: the feeling of burden as a predictor of depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of and to identify the predictors of depression in family caregivers of cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 310 caregivers of cancer patients from the National Cancer Center, Korea, on this study and obtained demographic information for both patients and caregivers. To assess caregiver depression and its predictors, we used the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer, and the Family Impact Questionnaire. We used logistic regression analysis to identify independent predictors of caregiver depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority (67%) of caregivers had high depression scores (BDI > 13), and 35% had very high depression scores (BDI > 21). In a multiple logistic regression model, caregivers who were women, the spouse of the patient, in poor health, feeling burdened, adapting poorly, unable to function normally, or caring for a patient with poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status were more likely to experience depression (P < .01 for all values).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression was highly prevalent among cancer patient family caregivers, and care burden was its best predictor. Interventions aimed at reducing the psychiatric effects of cancer should focus not only on the patient but also on the caregiver.
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Control Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Sun
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Young Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Sohee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dong Ok
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Kwang Mi
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Han Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Jeong Hwa
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soon Ok
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Youn Ok
authors.initials: YO
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Nam Shin
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018454:Spouses; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires