Affiliation:
1. Neurology Department, Multimedica Hospital, Castellanza, Italy
2. Istituto Nazionale Riposo e Cura per Anziani (INRCA), Fermo, Italy
Abstract
Sixty-nine dyads of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and primary caregivers have been followed up for 1 year to evaluate cognitive (Mini-Mental State Examination), functional (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living), and behavioral (Neuropsychiatric Inventory) decline of patient in relation to burden (Caregiver Burden Inventory), stress (Relative Stress Scale), anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Y), and depression (Beck Depression Inventory) reported by the caregivers. After 1 year of observation, cognitive and functional scores worsened while behavioral problems remained unchanged and relatively mild in patients. After 1 year, caregivers’ scores of scales of anxiety and depression decreased significantly, while stress scores remained unchanged and burden slightly increased. In our opinion, the unexpected improvement in psychological situation of caregivers may be mainly due to educational interventions focused on knowledge of the disease with a particular attention directed toward emotional support and individual needs.
Funder
Italian Ministry of Health Ricerca Corrente -IRCCS MultiMedica
Subject
Psychiatry and Mental health,Geriatrics and Gerontology,Clinical Psychology,General Neuroscience
Cited by
4 articles.
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