Centre for Policy on Ageing



A longitudinal study of the relationship between levels of depression among persons with Alzheimer's disease and levels of depression among their family caregivers
Author(s)	Marcia M Neundorfer, McKee J McClendon, Kathleen A Smyth
Journal title	Journals of Gerontology: Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, vol 56B, no 5, September 2001
Pages	pp P301-313
Keywords	Depression ; Dementia ; Family care ; Longitudinal surveys ; United States of America.
Annotation	The effects were examined, over time, of depressive symptoms in people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) on depression in their family caregivers. In a sample of 353 American patients and caregivers, the rate of change (increase) in caregiver depression was predicted by the rate of change (increase) in patient depressive symptoms, and by increase in patient dependency in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). Acceleration of the increase in caregiver depression was predicted by acceleration in patient dependency in instrumental and basic ADLs, but not by acceleration in patient depressive symptoms. These findings indicate the importance of measuring the rate and acceleration of change in patient characteristics, to understand caregiver depression. They also support early intervention for caregivers. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-011025206 A
Classmark	ENR: EA: P6:SJ: 3J: 7T
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing

...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.