Stroke Survivors’ Behavioral and Psychologic Symptoms Are Associated With Informal Caregivers’ Experiences of Depression
Abstract
Cameron JI, Cheung AM, Streiner DL, Coyte PC, Stewart DE. Stroke survivors’ behavioral and psychologic symptoms are associated with informal caregivers’ experiences of depression.
Objective
To determine the impact of stroke survivors’ behavioral and psychologic symptoms (BPS) on informal caregivers’ experience of depression in the context of the caregiving situation.
Design
Cross-sectional survey using a structured quantitative interview.
Setting
Rehabilitation facility outpatient clinic, tertiary care facility outpatient clinic, and community care organizations.
Participants
Ninety-four informal caregivers to stroke survivors completed standardized measurement instruments.
Interventions
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures
Measurement instruments included the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, Brain Impairment Behavior Inventory−Revised, Caregiver Assistance Scale, Caregiving Impact Scale, and Mastery scale.
Results
A substantial percentage (44.7%) of caregivers were at risk of clinical depression. Caregivers experienced more depression symptoms when they cared for stroke survivors exhibiting more BPS of memory and comprehension difficulties, provided less assistance, experienced more lifestyle interference, and had lower mastery (F5,85=26.02, P<.001, adjusted R2=.58).
Conclusions
BPS exhibited by stroke survivors contribute to informal caregivers’ experience of depression. These results can assist rehabilitation professionals to identify informal care providers who are at greater risk of experiencing emotional distress and, therefore, may benefit from intervention.
aToronto Rehabilitation Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
bUniversity Health Network and Departments of Medicine, Health Policy Management and Evaluation, and Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
cBaycrest Centre for Geriatric Care and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
dDepartment of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
eUniversity Health Network, Women’s Health Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
Reprint requests to Angela M. Cheung, MD, PhD, FRCPC, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth St, 7 Eaton North-221, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
Supported by the Canadian Stroke Network (doctoral fellowship); the Canadian Institute of Health Research’s Institute of Aging, Institute of Gender and Health, Institute of Health Services and Policy Research and Strategic Training Initiative in Health Care, Technology, and Place (postdoctoral fellowship); the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (mid-career award); the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation/Canadian Institutes of Health Research (chair award); the Canadian Stroke Network; and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (grant no. 839-2000-1060).
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the author(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated.
ABSTRACT