title: Anxiety and depression in caregivers are associated with patient and caregiver characteristics in Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to know the prevalence of anxiety and depression in caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and assess the association of caregiver burden (CB) with characteristics of both patients and caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sociodemographic and clinical variables have been obtained (patients: age, gender, marital status, years of education, duration and severity of dementia, psychiatric disorders, previous history, and use of psychoactive and antidementia drugs; caregivers: age, gender, relationship with patient, and marital status). Cognition was assessed with Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE); severity of dementia was assessed with Global Deterioration Scale (GDS); caregiver burden was assessed with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the number of hours of attention to the basic activities of daily-living (H-BADL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than 50% of caregivers have shown high anxiety and depression scores. Patients with longer duration of dementia, greater severity of dementia, and lower education levels significantly differ in anxiety and depression mean scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of CB in AD patients is strongly associated with the duration and severity of dementia and the educational level of patients. The results of this study should encourage researchers and clinicians working with elderly persons to consider these modifiable psychological states.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Andaluz de Neurociencia y Conducta, Málaga, Spain. jmgalberca@ianec.com
authors.forename: José María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: García-Alberca
authors.forename: José Pablo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lara
authors.forename: Marcelo Luis
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Berthier
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index