Department of Anatomy, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara P.O. Box 1410, Uganda.
Department of Community Practice and Family Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara P.O. Box 1410, Uganda.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jan 28;20(3):2336. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20032336.
The purpose of the study was to investigate behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD) prevalence, severity, and distress experienced by caregivers of people living with dementia (PLWD). A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted in a rural area in southwestern Uganda. A Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q) was used to determine the presence of BPSD as perceived by caregivers of PLWD. We carried out both descriptive and inferential data analysis. A total of 175 caregivers of PLWD were enrolled in this study. Among PLWD, 99% had presented BPSD in the past month. Hallucinations (75%) and dysphoria/depression (81%) were the two BPSD that occurred most frequently. Most participants (70%) stated that PLWD experienced hallucinations of significant severity. Aberrant motor activity was reported by 60% of the participants as the type of BPSD that caused severe distress. There was a high positive correlation (0.82) between the total severity score and total distress scores. Interventions aimed at addressing dysphoria and hallucinations may be essential for the reduction of caregiver distress. These findings point to the need for promoting early screening for BPSDs and the provision of support to caregivers.
这项研究的目的是调查照顾痴呆症患者（PLWD）的照护者经历的行为和心理症状（BPSD）的流行率、严重程度和困扰程度。在乌干达西南部的一个农村地区进行了一项横断面、基于人群的研究。使用神经精神病学问卷（NPI-Q）来确定照护者对 PLWD 存在 BPSD 的看法。我们进行了描述性和推断性数据分析。共有 175 名 PLWD 的照护者参与了这项研究。在 PLWD 中，99%的人在过去一个月出现了 BPSD。幻觉（75%）和烦躁/抑郁（81%）是最常见的两种 BPSD。大多数参与者（70%）表示 PLWD 经历了严重程度的幻觉。60%的参与者报告说，异常运动活动是引起严重困扰的 BPSD 类型。总严重程度评分和总困扰评分之间存在高度正相关（0.82）。针对烦躁和幻觉进行干预可能对减轻照护者的困扰至关重要。这些发现表明需要促进早期筛查 BPSD 并为照护者提供支持。
