
Research view
Title: | Anxiety, depression, and strain among caregivers of terminally ill patients |
Author: | Fadia Zyada, Mohamed sheta, Hanaa El Degwi and Rasha Saad |
Abstract: |
Aim
To describe the characteristics of informal caregivers of terminally ill (hepatic, cardiac,
and renal failure) patients and their care recipients and to examine the relationship
between depression, anxiety, and burden among informal caregivers.
Participants and methods
This was a cross-sectional study, in which 51 caregivers of terminally ill (hepatic,
cardiac, and renal failure) patients were recruited from among inpatients of Internal
Medicine Department, Kasr Al Aini, Faculty of Medicine, from September 2011 to April
2012. The patients were subjected to a Caregiver Questionnaire, Hamilton Anxiety
Rating Scales, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scales, and the Modified Caregiver
Strain Index was determined.
Results
Most of the caregivers experienced high levels of burden, severe anxiety, and mild
depression. Several factors showed a statistically significant correlation with caregiver
burden, anxiety, and depression including the care recipient’s functional status,
personality changes, mental functioning, the presence of comorbidity, the Palliative
Prognostic Score, being the main caregiver, duration of caregiving, the caregiver’s
employment status, perceived health, and impact on social activities. Caregiver
burden, anxiety, and depression were significantly correlated.
Conclusion
Caregivers of terminal organ failure (hepatic, cardiac, and renal) patients experience
high levels of burden, severe anxiety, and mild depression. Predictors of anxiety,
depression, and burden include being the main caregiver, duration of caregiving,
the caregiver’s employment status, perceived health, and impact on social activities.
Keywords:
caregiver, informal caregivers, organ failure, terminal illness
|
Journal: | Egyptian Journal of Psychiatry 2013, 34:77–84 |
Text: | |
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