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- Title
Patient and Caregiver Characteristics Associated with Depression in Dementia Caregivers.
- Authors
Pui-Kwan Wong; Cheung, George; Fung, Rachel; Koo, Stella; Sit, Ella; Shuk-Han Pun; Au, Alma
- Abstract
Background: Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) measuring the dependence of activities of daily living of dementia patients are the traditional predictors of caregivers' depression. The most problematic and stressful event in daily caregiving that caused depression was communication difficulties; however, this factor has not been included either in the ADL or the IADL scale. Besides this, the characteristics of a caregiver may contribute to the arousal in depression as well. Objectives: The goals of this study were to examine whether the characteristics of patient and caregiver were associated with the depression level of the dementia caregivers as measured by the 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale. This study also aimed to find out if the use of the recommended communication strategies by the caregivers would lower the probability of suffering from depression. Results: One hundred and twenty caregivers were interviewed. The correlation between patient's characteristics and caregiver's depression was weak positive, and it included the dependence of activities of daily living. Caregiver's characteristics associated with his/her depression included education level and daily caring hours; the correlation was weakly negative and weakly positive respectively. Conclusion: Depression of dementia caregiver is a complex clinical and social problem, associated with the characteristics of patient and caregiver. Clinicians should keep a watchful eye on caregivers who need to care for their family members with dementia, and multidisciplinary treatments or interventions should be provided for them promptly.
- Subjects
ACTIVITIES of daily living; MENTAL depression; DEMENTIA; CAREGIVERS; EPIDEMIOLOGY; SOCIAL problems; SOCIAL sciences
- Publication
Journal of Psychology in Chinese Societies, 2008, Vol 9, Issue 2, p195
- ISSN
1563-3403
- Publication type
Article