Year: 2009
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To examine the factors associated with burden and depression on caregivers of Alzheimer's Disease patients at a Health Center of Elderly Care, in the city of Curitiba, PR. METHODS: Cross sectional study. Informal and primary caregivers of patients with confirmed diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease were assessed. The information was collected with scales and a data assessment questionnaire filled by the caregivers. The CES-D scale was used to evaluate the presence of depressive symptoms on caregivers and The Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) to measure burden. RESULTS: Eighty caregivers participated in the study, most of the sample were women (81%) and the average age was 53.3 years old. The mean burden score was 35.2 ± 3.3 and the mean score of depressive symptoms was 16.8 ± 2.3. The variables statistically associated with burden and the presence of depressive symptoms were: caregiver gender (p < 0.01), the quality of premorbid relationship (p < 0.01), the practice of physical activities (p < 0.05) and social activities (p < 0.05) and use of psychotropic medications (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: From the evidence of these associations, it's suggested the development of actions in public and private environment which could offer better bio-psico-social suport, with bigger approach to the variables in question.
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2615843604