title: Factors underlying caregiver stress in frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) has devastating effects on patients and caregivers, yet the factors underlying caregiver stress are poorly understood.
  
  
  METHODS
  108 caregivers (79 = FTD, 29 = Alzheimer's disease) participated in a postal survey. Self-report measures of perceived stress, depression, social networks, as well as patient-based measures of behaviour change and activities of daily living were completed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Depression was a cardinal feature in FTD caregivers, and it accounted for more than 58% of stress scores. Both depression and stress were significantly higher than in AD. Neither the severity of behaviour changes nor functional disability explained caregiver stress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caregiver stress is a multidimensional construct, and FTD caregivers should receive more support than currently available. Depression plays a key role in coping ability.
authors.affiliation: Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, N.S.W., Australia.
authors.forename: Eneida
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mioshi
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bristow
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hodges
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*