Cognitive, functional and behavioral factors associated with the burden of caring for geriatric patients with cognitive impairment or depression: evidence from a South American sample

Authors:
MACHNICKI Gerard, et al
Journal article citation:
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 24(4), April 2009, pp.382-389.
Publisher:
Wiley

Primary caregivers assessed were included if the geriatric patient cared for had a cognitive impairment or dementia (degenerative, vascular or mixed) (Group 1) or depression and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) (Group 2). Caregivers completed the Zarit questionnaire, the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). Patients were evaluated for dementia severity using the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to assess measurement models and the factors associated with burden. Two hundred and fifty-eight caregiver-patient pairs were included. The best model fit was obtained with a model with two constructs: function-cognition (CDR, MMSE, and IADL) and behaviour (neuropsychiatric symptoms from the NPI). In Group 1, both function and behaviour were significantly correlated with caregiver burden, although the strength of association was more than two times higher for behaviour. In Group 2, behaviour was related to caregiver burden but not function-cognition. These findings suggest that behavioural symptoms are an important factor associated with caregiver burden in patients with cognitive impairment, dementia, or depression, while functional and cognitive factors seem to also have an influence in patients with cognitive impairment.

Subject terms:
older people, stress, carers, cognitive impairment, depression;
Content type:
research
Location(s):
Argentina
Link:
Journal home page
ISSN online:
1099-1166
ISSN print:
0885-6230

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