Evaluation of Anxiety and Depression in Caregivers of Patients Affected by Alzheimer’s Disease

Anna Vespa^1*, Maria Velia Giulietti², Marica Ottaviani³, R. Spatuzzi⁴, F. Merico⁵, Guido Gori⁶, Olimpia Claudia Rossi³, L. Paciaroni³, Giuseppe Pelliccioni³, Pietro Scendoni⁷, Cristina Meloni⁸

¹Department of Neurology, INRCA-IRCCS Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Aging, Ancona, Italy.
²Unity of Neurology, INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Aging, Ancona, Italy.
³Department of Neurology, INRCA-IRCCS National Institute of Health and Science on Aging, Ancona, Italy.
⁴U.O.C. Hospice/Palliative care Departments, A.O.R. San Carlo di Potenza, Italy.
⁵Hospice Casa di Betania Palliative Care Center, Lecce, Italy.
⁶Director Day Alzheimer Center “Le Civette”, ASL-Florence, Italy.
⁷Department of Rheumatology, INRCA-IRCCS National Institute of Health and Science on Aging, Fermo, Italy.
⁸INRCA-IRCCS National Institute of Health and Science on Aging, Ancona, Italy.

DOI: 10.4236/aad.2015.42003                

Abstract

Background: Many studies have been underlined as care giving for people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is highly stressful and has significant negative consequences, such as anxiety and depression. Objective: The specific aim of our study is to establish whether a difference exists in the prevalence of depression of family caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease patients and healthy subjects not caregiver. Methods: Study group (n = 60) consists of caregivers of patients affected by Alzheimer’s disease, whereas control group (n = 120) consists of healthy individuals who are not care giving (from at least 5 years). All the subjects were subdivided on the basis of the following independent variables: sex, age, marital status and educational level. The subjects of study and control groups studied have filled in the following tests: IPAT CDQ e IPAT ASQ Tests by Cattell which describe depression and anxiety. Such tests have been validated on the adult and elderly Italian population. Statistical analysis: Student t test has been applied for the comparison between experimental and control groups. Results: The caregivers show higher levels of anxiety (medium to high, P < 0.001) and depression in comparison to the group of control (medium to high, P < 0.001). This result indicates the caregiver shows serious depression. Conclusions: The high levels of depression and anxiety suggest the following considerations: interventions of social and psychological support are fundamental not only to maintain the patient in the family nucleus but also to maintain the caregiver’s psychological health.

Keywords

Caregiver, Alzheimer’s Disease, Anxiety, Depression

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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