title: Caregiver burden and needs in frontotemporal dementia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is well known that burden among caregivers of patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is high. However, little is known about the specific problems, the factors that contribute to caregiver burden, and the needs of the FTD caregivers-particularly those needs that are accessible by external support strategies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We developed a standardized questionnaire that addressed burdens, problems, and the actual needs of FTD caregivers. A total of 94 caregivers were interviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It appears that changes in the patients' behavior and in the interpersonal relations between caregivers and patients are associated with caregiver depression. The most important needs and requests of the caregivers included information and psychosocial support through educated staff, financial support as well as the education of medical staff about the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Support strategies should focus on information and psychosocial support. Given the low prevalence of FTD, internet- and telephone-based strategies appear suitable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Technische Universität München, München, Germany.
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Diehl-Schmid
authors.forename: Eva-Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nunnemann
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Riedl
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurz
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Förstl
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wagenpfeil
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cramer
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D057180:Frontotemporal Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: caregiver burden; caregiver support; frontotemporal dementia