title: The Role of Coping Strategies in Psychological Outcomes for Frontotemporal Dementia Caregivers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Caregiving for a person with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is related to poor caregiver outcomes. Coping strategies adopted by caregivers are known to influence psychological outcomes in other dementia caregiver populations, however, their influence on psychological outcomes in FTD caregivers is poorly understood at present.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaire data for 94 German primary caregivers (mean [M] 59.11 years, 68 females) of FTD care-recipients living in the community (M 63.94, 30 females) were investigated. Standardized measures completed by the caregiver included the Caregiver Strain Index (CSI), Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease (QoL-AD), and the Brief Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (COPE). Care-recipients' nursing care level was collected as a measure of the intensity of their care needs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mediation analyses showed that the effect of the intensity of care-recipients' care needs on caregiver well-being depended on caregivers' experience of strain. High levels of caregiver strain did not predict depression (-0.22, 95% confidence interval CI: [0.16 to 2.04]) but predicted reduced QoL (-0.44, CI: [-1.15 to -.16]). Moreover, caregivers' experience of strain was exacerbated by their use of dysfunctional coping (β = .21; p = .04), care-recipients' intensity of care needs (β = .25; p = .01), and fewer financial resources (β = .23; p = .02). In turn, caregivers' use of dysfunctional coping as a response to their strain increased the levels of depression (0.46, CI: [0.19-0.82]). By contrast, use of problem-focused coping strategies increased caregivers' QoL (0.10, CI: [0.00 to 0.31]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study identifies variables amenable to clinical interventions that can improve caregivers' well-being: specifically, caregiver strain and coping strategies. For a disease without cure yet increasing prevalence and cost, ameliorating the caregiver experience through targeted interventions is essential.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roche DClinPsy
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia karen.croot@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Croot
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: MacCann
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cramer
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Diehl-Schmid
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D057180:Frontotemporal Dementia / Q000451:nursing*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: caregiver; coping; depression; frontotemporal dementia