The Effects of Declining Functional Abilities in Dementia Patients and Increases Psychological Distress on Caregiver Burden Over a One-Year Period

Document Type

Article

Abstract

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.

Publication Date

1-1-2014

Publication Title

Clinical gerontologist

ISSN

0731-7115

Volume

37

Issue

3

First Page

235

Last Page

252

PubMed ID

24839349

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1080/07317115.2014.885920

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