title: [Users and utilization of support groups among caregivers of dementia patients : Results of a naturalistic observational study].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Caring for patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is frequently associated with an increased burden for the caregiving relatives (CG). While therapeutic options and low threshold assistance offers for a reduction of the burden have become well established, data on the utilization of support groups (SG) are still lacking.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the outpatient neurological and psychiatric routine treatment, AD patients were enrolled with their accompanying CG in a 2-stage study. Firstly, each patient was clinically documented by the treating physician and each CG was asked to fill out a questionnaire on the current care situation at the patient's home. In stage two, each CG was additionally assessed with a standardized interview and screened for depression with the depression screening questionnaire (DSQ). Each CG also rated the current CG burden, life satisfaction and health condition on a visual analogue scale (VAS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 14.8 % of CGs attended an SG. The CGs who visited an SG showed a tendency to report a severe CG burden more often than CGs who did not (71.9 % vs. 56.3 %, p = 0.060) and more frequently a lower satisfaction with life (33.3 vs. 17.2 %, p < 0.01). They also reported higher rates of verbal and physical aggression by the patients (51.5 % vs. 34.0 %, p < 0.05 and 39.4 % vs. 12.7 %, p < 0.01, respectively) and appraised their health condition to be lower (VAS score 66.0 % vs. 54.0, p < 0.01). Depressive disorders occurred in both groups at similar rates (54.1 % and 42.1 %, p = 0.317).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggest that the decision to join an SG is influenced more by behavioral and non-cognitive symptoms of the AD rather than its duration or severity.
authors.affiliation: Leibniz-Institut für Präventionsforschung und Epidemiologie - BIPS, Achterstr. 30, 28359, Bremen, Deutschland. riedel@bips.uni-bremen.de.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Riedel
authors.affiliation: Institut für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Deutschland.
authors.forename: H-U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Wittchen
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology; D058992:Social Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D014600:Utilization Review
keywords: Burden; Depression; Health status; Home nursing; Satisfaction