title: Eating disorders: predictors of change in the quality of life of caregivers.
abstract: Eating disorders (EDs) have a strong impact on the quality of life (QoL) of caregivers. This study explores the longitudinal changes in the QoL of ED caregivers at 1 (T1; n=109) and 2 years (T2; n=32) follow-up, and identifies predictors of improvement at 1-year follow-up. ED outpatients also completed a battery of tests at T1 (n=69) and T2 (n=11). Multivariate hierarchical linear mixed models were used, in which the caregivers' 1-year changes in QoL, anxiety and depression scores were analysed as the dependent variables. Predictor variables were the caregivers' perception of burden, perception of the severity of the patient's ED, kinship data, and the ED person's scores on QoL, anxiety depression and ED symptoms. Higher scores in mental health and low perception of burden at baseline predicted improved caregiver QoL at 1-year follow-up. The caregivers' QoL improved if the perception of burden decreased over time and if depression of the patient improved. The results suggest that interventions directed to reduce the caregivers' perception of burden and to improve the mental health of the ED patients would lead to improved caregiver QoL. The high attrition rate at T2 made prediction analyses unviable.
authors.affiliation: Deusto Stress Research Unit - University of Deusto, Avenida de las Universidades 24, 48007 Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain; Health Services Research on Chronic Patients Network (REDISSEC), Spain. Electronic address: carlota.lashayas@deusto.es.
authors.forename: Carlota
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Las Hayas
authors.affiliation: Health Services Research on Chronic Patients Network (REDISSEC), Spain; Psychiatry Service, Galdakao-Usansolo Hospital, Barrio Labeaga s/n, 48960, Galdakao, Bizkaia, Spain. Electronic address: jesusangel.padiernaacero@osakidetza.net.
authors.forename: Jesús Ángel
authors.initials: JÁ
authors.lastname: Padierna
authors.affiliation: Health Services Research on Chronic Patients Network (REDISSEC), Spain; Research Unit, University Hospital Basurto (Osakidetza), Avda. Montevideo, 18, 48013 Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain. Electronic address: amaia.bilbaogonzalez@osakidetza.net.
authors.forename: Amaia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bilbao
authors.affiliation: Research Unit, Galdakao - Usansolo Hospital, Barrio Labeaga s/n, 48960, Galdakao, Bizkaia, Spain. Electronic address: josune.martincorral@osakidetza.net.
authors.forename: Josune
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Ortuella Mental Health Center, Av Minero 1, 48530 Ortuella, Bizkaia, Spain. Electronic address: pedro.munozdominguez@osakidetza.net.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.affiliation: Health Services Research on Chronic Patients Network (REDISSEC), Spain; Research Unit, Galdakao - Usansolo Hospital, Barrio Labeaga s/n, 48960, Galdakao, Bizkaia, Spain. Electronic address: josemaria.quintanalopez@osakidetza.net.
authors.forename: Jose María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Quintana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Burden; Caregiver; Eating disorders; Longitudinal study; Mental health; Quality of life