title: The burden of distress in caregivers of elderly demented patients and its relationship with coping strategies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies have shown that taking care of elderly, demented patients carries a high cost to caregivers' health, and is associated with negative consequences for physical and mental health. The aim of this study is to investigate which socio-demographic and clinical variables are significantly associated with higher levels of distress in caregivers, and the relationship between caregivers' levels of distress and the coping strategies they adopt.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study samples 112 caregivers of demented patients, consecutively admitted to the Department of Neurology of San Raffaele-Turro Hospital (Milan, Italy).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caregivers were asked to complete the CBI and the COPE. Caregivers with the highest levels of distress are characterised by an impaired physical health status. Avoidance coping may represent a risk factor associated with higher levels of distress; conversely, an active and problem-focused approach to stressful situations may act as a protective factor.
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Health Psychology Unit Department of Clinical Neurosciences, San Raffaele-Turro Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Di Mattei
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prunas
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Novella
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marcone
authors.forename: Stefano F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Cappa
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sarno
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires