Premium
Treatment of Late‐Life Depression Alleviates Caregiver Burden
Author(s) -
Martire Lynn M.,
Schulz Richard,
Reynolds Charles F.,
Karp Jordan F.,
Gildengers Ariel G.,
Whyte Ellen M.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2009.02610.x
Subject(s) - medicine , caregiver burden , depression (economics) , randomized controlled trial , antidepressant medication , hamilton rating scale for depression , major depressive disorder , psychiatry , antidepressant , late life depression , rating scale , anxiety , disease , dementia , mood , psychology , developmental psychology , cognition , economics , macroeconomics
OBJECTIVES: To describe the burden experienced by family caregivers of older adults with depression and to examine the positive effects on caregivers of treating late‐life depression. DESIGN: Two‐phase treatment study for major depressive disorder (MDD) that included 6 weeks of open treatment with antidepressant medication for all older patients followed by 16 weeks of randomized treatment for patients who were partial responders, comparing a combination of medication and interpersonal psychotherapy with medication alone. SETTING: Primary care and university late‐life mental health research clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged 60 and older participating in a randomized trial for treatment of MDD who enrolled in a family caregiver study and their caregiver (N=244 dyads). MEASUREMENTS: Improvement in patient symptoms during open treatment (lower scores on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD)) and remission of depression during randomized treatment (3 consecutive weekly HRSD scores of ≤7) were examined as predictors of lower general caregiver burden and burden specific to patient depression. RESULTS: Caregivers reported a moderate to high level of general caregiver burden on average. Change in patient depression during open treatment was associated with significantly decreased depression‐specific burden (β=−0.22, P =.001) and a trend toward lower general burden (β=−0.08, P =.08). Caregivers of patients who remitted showed significantly decreased depression‐specific burden ( F (1,76)=4.27, P =.04). CONCLUSION: Treatment of late‐life depression has benefits that extend to the family members on whom patients depend. Caregiver education and support may strengthen these effects.