title: Quality of life among caregivers of individuals with affective disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were as follows: 1. to assess the quality of life (QoL) of caregivers of individuals with affective disorders (major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder); 2. to compare QoL levels with those observed in caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia and in the general population; 3. to determine the impact of sociodemographic and clinical factors on the caregivers' QoL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from the psychiatric departments of a French public teaching hospital. QoL was measured with the SF-36 questionnaire. The QoL of 232 caregivers of individuals with affective disorders was compared with 246 caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia and 232 French age-sex-matched controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caregivers of individuals with affective disorders experienced lower QoL levels than French age-sex-matched controls. The most severe impairment concerned psychological distress, social and role disability due to emotional problems (SF36-mental composite score=38.2). In contrast, caregivers of individuals with affective disorders reported higher SF36 dimension scores than caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia. Among caregivers of individuals with affective disorders, women (p=0.010), parents/family or spouse (p=0.017), caregivers living in the same home (p=0.003) and caregivers of individuals with MDD (p=0.005) were significantly associated with a lower SF36-mental composite score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The QoL of caregivers of individuals with affective disorders is seriously impaired, mainly because of an altered psychological or mental well-being and social life. QoL adds interesting and complementary information to information that has been traditionally collected (burden, stress, perceived stigma) and facilitates the identification of specific needs that should be addressed in support groups for caregivers.
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille University, EA 3279 Research Unit, and Department of Psychiatry, La Conception University Hospital, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zendjidjian
authors.forename: Raphaelle
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Richieri
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adida
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Limousin
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gaubert
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Parola
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lançon
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders; D011788:Quality of Life; D012559:Schizophrenia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires