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Longitudinal Study on the Relationship Between Symptomatology of Dementia and Levels of Subjective Burden and Depression Among Family Caregivers in Memory Clinic Patients

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany

Tanja Bernhardt, PhD

Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Central Institute for Mental Health, Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany

Erik Weimer, MD

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany

Juergen Peters, MD

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany

Tilman Kratzsch, MD

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany

Lutz Frolich, MD, PhD

Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Central Institute for Mental Health, Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany, froelich{at}zi-mannheim.de

The objective was to evaluate the course and severity of dementia-related symptoms and their relationship to caregivers’ subjective burden and depression over time. Forty-five patients with dementia and their caregivers were followed over a period of 2 years. Patients’ cognition, function, and behavioral/psychological symptoms were assessed by the Mini Mental State Examination, Syndrome Kurz Test, Geriatric Depression Screening scale, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale, Physical Self Maintenance Scale, Behavioral Abnormalities in Alzheimer’s Disease Rating Scale, and Nurses Observation Scale for Geriatric Patients. Caregivers’ depression and subjective burden were evaluated by the Geriatric Depression Screening scale or Beck Depression Inventory and the Caregiver Burden Interview. Global dementia severity, functional impairment, and behavioral disturbances increased significantly over the 2-year observation period. Caregivers’ burden remained stable, and severe depression decreased over time. There were significant associations between burden and dementia-related symptoms. For deficits in activities of daily living as well as behavioral disturbances, these associations became stronger over time. It was concluded that stage of dementia, functional deficits, and behavioral disturbances are important factors when evaluating the relationship between patients’ symptoms and caregivers’ well-being.

Key Words: dementia • clinical course • caregiver burden • geriatric depression scale • global deterioration scale • short syndrome test • NOSGER • MMSE • IADL • PSMS • Behavioural Abnormalities in Alzheimer’s Disease Rating Scale (Behave-AD)

Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, Vol. 18, No. 3, 119-128 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/0891988704273375


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