Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine
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Comparative Study
The dynamics of quality of life in ALS patients and caregivers.
Quality of life (QOL) in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and their caregivers may depend on disease progression, premorbid characteristics (e.g., personality or demographics), or idiosyncratic effects (e.g., life events unrelated to the disease). Furthermore, effects may differ for patients and caregivers; physical decline may impact the caregiver more than the patient. ⋯ Low QOL among ALS patients is likely due to pre-existing individual differences, whereas both individual differences such as demographics (e.g., age) and disease progression are likely to affect QOL among caregivers.