The Effects of Declining Functional Abilities in Dementia Patients and Increases Psychological Distress on Caregiver Burden Over a One-Year Period.
The degree to which changes in caregiver burden over a one year period can be predicted by functioning of dementia patients and caregiver psychological stress was examined. The Direct Assessment of Functional Status (DAFS) was administered to 44 patients and the Caregiver Burden Inventory and the Brief Symptom Inventory were administered to their next-of-kin caregivers. All patients and caregivers were assessed at baseline and again in approximately one year with the same measures. Hierarchical regression revealed that baseline patient functioning predicted overall changes in caregiver burden, but that increases in psychological symptoms of caregivers such as depression, anxiety and hostility were the best predictors for specific types of increased caregiver burden, such as social, developmental, or physical burden. These results suggest that interventions should target reduction of particular psychological symptoms in order to reduce caregiver burden over time.
California State University, Northridge.
Jill
J
Razani
University of California, Merced.
Roberto
R
Corona
California State University, Northridge.
Jill
J
Quilici
Allient University.
A Adelina
AA
Matevosyan
Georgia State University.
Cynthia
C
Funes
California State University, Northridge.
Andrea
A
Larco
The University of Queensland.
Beyon
B
Miloyan
California State University, Northridge.
Justina
J
Avila
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
Julia
J
Chung
Olive View-UCLA Medical Center.
Hope
H
Goldberg
University of California, Los Angeles.
Po
P
Lu
activities of daily living; anxiety; caregiver burden; dementia; depression; hostility; psychological distress