title: Distress associated with patients' symptoms and depression in a sample of Mexican caregivers of individuals with MS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this quantitative correlational study were to: (a) determine the frequency and level of distress associated with patients' symptoms as reported by caregivers of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), (b) determine the prevalence of depression in these caregivers, and (c) examine the relationship between these caregivers' total symptom distress and depression after controlling for patient, caregiver, and illness characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this quantitative correlational study, data from 79 caregivers of individuals with MS in Mexico were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient symptoms with the highest average level of distress for caregivers were depression, difficulty talking, difficulty hearing, becoming upset easily, and upsetting other people. Patient symptoms with the lowest average level of distress for caregivers included difficulty learning, seizures, trouble reading, difficulty eating, and difficulty writing. Forty percent of the caregivers met the criteria for probable major depressive disorder. Results of a multivariate regression analysis showed that caregiver total symptom distress was significantly related to caregiver depression, after controlling for patient marital status, caregiver gender, caregiver relationship to patient, caregiver current employment, and months spent caregiving.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings have implications for MS patients and caregivers as well as larger society, as depression in caregivers often results in the institutionalization of individuals with chronic illnesses and disabilities, which is costly for both individuals and society. In addition, there might be increased expenditures associated with the caregivers' own declining health. For these reasons, it is important to develop a better understanding of its risk factors to identify caregivers who might benefit from intervention.
authors.affiliation: The Graduate School, North Central University.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lehan
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Arango-Lasprilla
authors.forename: Miguel Ángel
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Macias
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aguayo
authors.forename: Teresita
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Villaseñor
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires