title: The prevalence of psychological impact on caregivers of hospitalized patients: The forgotten part of the equation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the large number of caregivers suffering from various psychiatric disorders, research on psychological symptoms among caregivers of hospitalized patients is lacking in Saudi populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among caregivers of hospitalized Saudi patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of depression, anxiety and stress among caregivers of hospitalized patients was conducted. Arabic speaking caregivers (n = 353) between the ages of 14 and 80 years were included in the study. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) test (Arabic version) was used to measure the three psychological symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study has shown high rates of depression, anxiety and stress among caregivers (72.8%, 76.5%, and 61.5%, respectively). Depression was found to be associated with long-term hospital stay (81.4% vs. 69.3%; p-value = 0.021) and family caregivers (75.4% vs. 46.9%, p-value = 0.001). Anxiety was found to be associated with family caregivers (78.8% vs. 53.1%; p-value = 0.001). The three psychological symptoms were higher among those with an age above 20 years old (p-value < 0.05). Multivariate logistic models show the risk of the psychological symptoms increased with low-income, higher education, immediate relation to the patient, and older caregivers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms were very common among caregivers. The results showed that approximately 8 out of 10 caregivers suffer from at least one psychiatric disorder. Older, low socioeconomic status, and well-educated caregivers were identified as being at higher risk of developing psychiatric symptoms.
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Rahma
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Al-Zahrani
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Rahaf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bashihab
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health and Health Informatics, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Anwar E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Reem
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alkhodair
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Sultan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Khateeb
keywords: DASS; Saudi Arabia; anxiety; caregivers; depression; stress