title: What impacts on the stress symptoms of Parkinson's carers? Results from the Parkinson's UK Members' Survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Caring for a patient with Parkinson's disease (PD) is stressful and has a significant impact on the carer's physical and mental health. This article is aimed at assessing which characteristics are most frequently associated with the stress symptoms of PD carers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the Parkinson's UK Members' Survey were drawn from 1881 valid self-completion surveys, filled in by carers of a patient with PD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The carers, 95.6% of whom were a first-degree relative, reported an average of 2.7 ± 3.1 stress-related symptoms. In multiple regression analysis, a greater number of symptoms were associated (p < 0.01) with: the more tasks that the carer carried out (β = 0.35), an increased number of carer's co-morbidities (0.22) and worsening financial status (0.16).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important to consider the health of both the patient with PD as well as that of the family carer to reduce the impact of caring activity on the carer's stress.
authors.affiliation: Research and Innovation , Parkinson's UK, London , UK .
authors.forename: Gerda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Drutyte
authors.forename: Maria João
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Forjaz
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Blazquez
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martinez-Martin
authors.forename: Kieran C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Breen
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult