Psychiatric Complications of Dementia: Impact on Caregivers
Document Type
Article
Language
eng
Format of Original
6 p.
Publication Date
1-1998
Publisher
Karger
Source Publication
Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders
Source ISSN
1420-8008
Original Item ID
doi: 10.1159/000017022
Abstract
This study was designed to determine the relationship between psychiatric features of dementia and their impact on caregivers. 35 patient-caregiver pairs were evaluated at two university-affiliated dementia clinics, using standard instruments to rate patient psychiatric features and caregiver burden and depression. There were highly significant correlations between patient agitation and both caregiver burden (r = 0.59, p = 0.0002) and depression (r = 61, p = 0.0001). These associations remained significant after adjusting for multiple demographic and dementia variables. There was no significant association between patient delusions, hallucinations, or depression and caregiver burden or depression. Agitation, particularly physical aggression, may impact caregivers even more than does the cognitive status of the demented patient.
Recommended Citation
Victoroff, Jeff; Mack, W. J.; and Nielson, Kristy A., "Psychiatric Complications of Dementia: Impact on Caregivers" (1998). Psychology Faculty Research and Publications. 131.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/psych_fac/131
Comments
Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, Vol. 9, No. 1 (January/February 1998): 50-55. DOI.
Kristy Nielson was affiliated with University of California-Irvine at the time of publication.