Shua-Haim J R, Haim T, Shi Y, Kuo Y H, Smith J M
Memory Disorders Institute, Meridian Institute for Aging, Affiliated with Meridian Health System and Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune, New Jersey, USA.
Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2001 Nov-Dec;16(6):353-9. doi: 10.1177/153331750101600611.
The purpose of this study was to reveal risk factors contributing to the development of depression among caregivers of Alzheimer's disease patients.
In a cross-sectional study, all caregivers of consecutive Alzheimer's disease patients were asked to participate in the study. Patient and caregiver depression was evaluated by using the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Information regarding patients' functional status, driving status, and type of behavioral abnormalities was obtained from caregivers. Patients' functional status was evaluated by using the Katz Activity of Daily Living (ADL) scale. The Folstein Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) was used to evaluate cognition. Risk factors for Alzheimer's caregiver depression were assessed by means of logistic regression analysis.
A total of 92 patients and caregivers were evaluated. Fifteen were excluded due to incomplete data. A total of 77 pairs were included in this analysis. The age of caregivers ranged from 28 to 88 years. Mean (standard deviation [SD]) age was 63.1 (SD = 16.3) years old. Husbands and wives (caregivers) accounted for 49.4 percent; daughters or sons (or daughters- or sons-in-law) accounted for 42.9 percent. There were 29 caregivers (38 percent) found to be depressed. By using multivariate analysis, the following factors have been identified as risk factors for depression in Alzheimer 's caregivers: depression in the dementia patient; ADL functional scores of 12 or greater; and the presence of hallucinations.
Three risk factors were found to have a strong association with Alzheimer's caregiver depression. Early recognition of such risk factors may help to identify Alzheimer's caregivers with depression.
本研究旨在揭示阿尔茨海默病患者照料者发生抑郁症的危险因素。
在一项横断面研究中，连续纳入的阿尔茨海默病患者的所有照料者均被邀请参与研究。采用耶萨维奇老年抑郁量表（GDS）评估患者及照料者的抑郁情况。从照料者处获取有关患者功能状态、驾驶状态及行为异常类型的信息。采用Katz日常生活活动能力（ADL）量表评估患者的功能状态。采用福尔斯坦简易精神状态检查表（MMSE）评估认知功能。通过逻辑回归分析评估阿尔茨海默病照料者抑郁的危险因素。
共评估了92例患者及其照料者。15例因数据不完整被排除。本分析共纳入77对。照料者年龄范围为28至88岁。平均（标准差[SD]）年龄为63.1（SD = 16.3）岁。丈夫和妻子（照料者）占49.4%；女儿或儿子（或儿媳或女婿）占42.9%。发现29名照料者（38%）存在抑郁。通过多因素分析，以下因素被确定为阿尔茨海默病照料者抑郁的危险因素：痴呆患者的抑郁；ADL功能评分≥12分；以及存在幻觉。
发现三个危险因素与阿尔茨海默病照料者抑郁密切相关。早期识别这些危险因素可能有助于识别患有抑郁症的阿尔茨海默病照料者。
