Aging & mental health
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Aging & mental health · Jan 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialCognitive-behavioural group therapy improves a psychophysiological marker of stress in caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Family caregivers of patients with dementia frequently experience psychological stress, depression and disturbed psychophysiological activity, with increased levels of diurnal cortisol secretion. ⋯ Psychoeducation for caregivers may contribute to a reduction of neuropsychiatric symptoms of AD patients while CBT additionally attenuates psychophysiological responses to stressful situations in caregivers, by reducing diurnal cortisol levels. This may lead to a positive impact in the general health of the caregiver, eventually resulting in better care of the AD patient.
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Aging & mental health · Jan 2014
Multicenter StudyFamily caregivers' sleep disturbance and its associations with multilevel stressors when caring for patients with dementia.
We tested a stress process model of multilevel stressors on sleep disturbance for family caregivers (FCG) of persons with dementia (PWD). ⋯ This study supports the model that development of caregivers' sleep problems may depend on their depression, fatigue, and the synergistic effects of these two variables. These findings suggest that clinicians should educate FCGs about self-care and offer strategies for dealing with a cluster of symptoms when maintaining sleep hygiene.
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Aging & mental health · Jan 2014
Caring for relatives with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: how does the disease severity impact on family carers?
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major cause of disability, morbidity and mortality in old age, representing a significant burden for families. However, information on the impacts of caring for relatives with COPD on carers' psychological health is limited. This study aimed to analyse the subjective burden of family carers of people with early and advanced COPD and its predictor variables. ⋯ The findings suggest that the gradual course of COPD imposes an increasing physical and emotional burden on carers, with negative impacts on their psychological health. The study highlights the relevance of early interventions in the context of COPD to prevent carers' burden.
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Aging & mental health · Jan 2013
Caregiving spouses' attachment orientations and the physical and psychological health of individuals with Alzheimer's disease.
Attachment theory is a useful framework for understanding how caregiving dyads regulate emotions and maintain feelings of security in reaction to a loved one's chronic illness. In this study we examined the extent to which the attachment orientations (anxiety and avoidance) of persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and their spousal caregivers were associated with each partner's report of the physical and psychological health symptoms of the person with AD. ⋯ This study highlights the importance of considering the attachment security of both caregivers and persons with AD when considering how each partner views the psychological and physical health symptoms of the person with AD. Our results have implications for providing care-recipients and caregivers with improved, tailored care.
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Aging & mental health · Jan 2013
Comparative StudyComparison of major depressive disorder and subthreshold depression among older adults in community long-term care.
This study extends existing knowledge regarding the continuum between major depression (MD) and subthreshold depression (SD) by examining differences in symptomology and associative factors for a subpopulation of older adults with functional disability. ⋯ Our findings of symptom profiles and associative factors lend support to the continuum notion of depression. Identification of only older adults within the community long-term care service system who meet criteria for MD would leave many older adults, who also face multiple comorbidities, high levels of stress and social isolation, and substantial depressive symptoms undiagnosed and untreated.