Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

1998293438 Dr. M. Dennis, Neurosciences Trials Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh; United Kingdom. E-Mail: msd@skull.dcn.ed.ac.uk Background and Purpose - Although the physical and, to a lesser extent, emotional outcome of stroke survivors has been well documented, there are far fewer data relating to the outcomes of those who care for them. We aimed to describe the outcome of those caring for stroke patients and to identify both patient and caregiver factors that are associated with poor caregiver outcomes. Methods - As part of a randomized trial to evaluate a stroke family care worker, we identified 417 patients (67% of all referrals to our institution). We followed up 376 survivors of whom 246 identified a caregiver at a 6-month follow-up interview. The patients and caregivers were asked to complete 2 measures of emotional distress (30-item General Health Questionnaire [GHQ-30] and Hospital Anxiety and Depression [HAD] Scale). A regression analysis was used to identify factors that were independently associated with poor caregiver outcomes. Results - Fifty-five percent of responding caregivers scored more than 4 on the GHQ-30, indicating that emotional distress is common in this group. Caregivers were more likely to be depressed if the patients were severely dependent (P < 0.01) or emotionally distressed themselves (P < 0.01). Female caregivers reported more anxiety (median HAD=8) than male caregivers (median HAD = 5; P < 0.01) but caregivers' levels of anxiety were not so clearly related to the patients' degree of physical disability as their levels of depression. Caregivers suffered more emotional distress if the patients had been dependent before their strokes. Conclusions - These data may help to identify those caregivers at greatest risk of poor emotional outcomes and thus help in the planning of trials and delivery of interventions aimed at preventing or treating distress among caregivers. [References: 15]

Type

Journal article

Journal

Stroke

Publication Date

1998

Volume

29

Pages

(pp 1867 - 1872)

Keywords

depression, HAD, stroke, follow up, carer, burden