The burden of distress in caregivers of elderly demented patients and its relationship with coping strategies.
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.
Di Mattei
Valentina E
VE
Clinical and Health Psychology Unit Department of Clinical Neurosciences, San Raffaele-Turro Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Prunas
Antonio
A
Novella
Liliana
L
Marcone
Alessandra
A
Cappa
Stefano F
SF
Sarno
Lucio
L
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