Graham C, Ballard C, Sham P
Maudsley & Bethlem NHS Trust, London, UK.
Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 1997 Sep;12(9):931-6.
The main hypothesis was that carers of dementia sufferers who have a higher level of knowledge on the subject of dementia have lower rates of physical and psychological morbidity. We also wanted to examine whether a carer's level of knowledge bears any relation to their attributional style and coping mechanisms.
Informal carers, caring for patients who fulfilled the CAMDEX criteria for mild or moderate dementia, were approached to participate in the study.
Old age psychiatry services in the West Midlands and Bristol.
Informal carers, caring for relatives with dementia.
Trained researchers administered the Geriatric Mental State Schedule, the Dementia Knowledge Questionnaire, the Pennebaker Inventory of Limbic-Languidness (an inventory of common physical symptoms) and the Carer Stress Scale.
More knowledgeable carers experienced significantly lower levels of depression but also higher rates of anxiety. Carers' level of knowledge on the subject of dementia showed no association with their physical health. More knowledgeable carers were more likely to have 'reduced expectations' of their dependants' abilities and make 'positive comparisons'; they were also more likely to feel competent and confident as carergivers.
The findings support the main hypothesis when considering carers' rates of depression but not when considering rates of anxiety or physical ill-health.
主要假设是，对痴呆症主题有较高知识水平的痴呆症患者照料者，其身体和心理疾病的发病率较低。我们还想研究照料者的知识水平是否与其归因方式和应对机制有关。
邀请照料符合CAMDEX轻度或中度痴呆标准患者的非正式照料者参与研究。
西米德兰兹郡和布里斯托尔的老年精神病学服务机构。
照料患有痴呆症亲属的非正式照料者。
训练有素的研究人员实施了老年精神状态检查表、痴呆症知识问卷、边缘性萎靡贝克清单（一份常见身体症状清单）和照料者压力量表。
知识更丰富的照料者抑郁水平显著较低，但焦虑率也较高。照料者对痴呆症主题的知识水平与他们的身体健康无关。知识更丰富的照料者更有可能对其受抚养人的能力“降低期望”并进行“积极比较”；他们作为照料者也更有可能感到有能力和自信。
在考虑照料者的抑郁率时，研究结果支持主要假设，但在考虑焦虑率或身体不健康率时则不然。
