Caregivers' well-being after traumatic brain injury: a multicenter prospective investigation.
OBJECTIVE
To describe frequency and magnitude of caregivers' emotional distress and life satisfaction using standardized assessment procedures; compare distress levels among spouses, parents, and other caregivers; and identify risk factors.


METHODS
Prospective collaborative cohort study.


METHODS
Six Traumatic Brain Injury Model System Centers providing neurotrauma care, rehabilitation, and outpatient follow-up.


METHODS
Caregivers (N=273) of patients who were 1, 2, or 5 years postinjury.


METHODS
Acute neurotrauma care, inpatient interdisciplinary brain injury rehabilitation, and postacute services.


METHODS
Brief Symptom Inventory-18 Depression, Anxiety, and Somatic dimensions.


RESULTS
Levels of Depression, Anxiety, and Somatic symptoms were equally prevalent, with 1 in 5 caregivers scoring above the cutoff in each area. The proportion of participants with 1, 2, and 3 elevations was 17.9%, 5.5%, and 10.6%, respectively. Conversely, approximately two thirds (65.9%) had no scores exceeding cutoffs. Distress levels among spouses, parents, and other caregivers were comparable. Higher caregiver distress was associated with caring for survivors who had worse functional status, received more supervision, were less satisfied with life, and used alcohol excessively.


CONCLUSIONS
Depression, Anxiety, and Somatic symptoms are common among caregivers. Findings substantiate the importance of clinical care systems addressing the needs of caregivers in the long term as well as survivors.
Kreutzer
Jeffrey S
JS
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0542, USA. jskreutz@vcu.edu
Rapport
Lisa J
LJ
Marwitz
Jennifer H
JH
Harrison-Felix
Cynthia
C
Hart
Tessa
T
Glenn
Mel
M
Hammond
Flora
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D055815:Young Adult