title: [The influence of dysfunctional thoughts on the burden of the dependent person caregiver].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the influence of dysfunctional thoughts and their relationship on the burden of caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study conducted in the San Andrés Torcal Health Centre, Malaga, Spain, in 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample was selected from dependent person caregivers of the centre. Those patients who were receiving palliative care and those cases where the care was less than 6 weeks were excluded.We used the Dysfunctional Thoughts Questionnaire (DTQ) and the short Zarit questionnaire was used on the caregivers. Sociodemographic variables of the caregiver and variables related to care (presence of support, duration of care, and if applicable, the type of help received by them), were collected. Sociodemographic variables of the patients, as well as the Barthel index and presence or absence of dementia were recorded. ANALYSIS USED: descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation coefficient to assess the association between quantitative variables and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean DTQ score was 49.94 (95% CI; 42.0 - 49.8). The burden measured by Zarit test and dysfunctional thoughts were positively associated (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.57, P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dysfunctional thoughts have a high impact on our population of caregivers and may be a contributing factor to the onset of fatigue in the caregiver role.There is a positive association between stress of caregivers and dysfunctional thoughts, and is more intensive in caregivers of patients without dementia.
authors: Centro de Salud San Andrés-Torcal, Málaga, España. mvazquezsanchez@telefonica.net
authors: María Ángeles
authors: MÁ
authors: Vázquez-Sánchez
authors: María Pilar
authors: MP
authors: Aguilar-Trujillo
authors: Francisca María
authors: FM
authors: Estébanez-Carvajal
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Casals-Vázquez
authors: José Luis
authors: JL
authors: Casals-Sánchez
authors: María Carmen
authors: MC
authors: Heras-Pérez
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013850:Thinking