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Burden of caregivers of patients in V egetative S tate and M inimally C onscious S tate
Author(s) -
Giovannetti A. M.,
Leonardi M.,
Pagani M.,
Sattin D.,
Raggi A.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2012.01666.x
Subject(s) - medicine , anxiety , coping (psychology) , caregiver burden , beck depression inventory , distress , depression (economics) , disease , state trait anxiety inventory , mental health , psychiatry , physical therapy , clinical psychology , dementia , economics , macroeconomics
Objectives To assess differences in the burden of caregivers of patients in Vegetative state ( VS ) and minimally conscious state ( MCS ). Materials and methods T he F amily S train Q uestionnaire, C oping O rientations to P roblem E xperiences, C aregiver N eeds A ssessment, S hort F orm‐12, B eck D epression I nventory and S tate‐ T rait A nxiety I nventory were used. Differences in psychological condition between caregivers of VS and MCS patients, with different disease duration and hosting facility were assessed with K ruskall– W allis test and factors associated with the overall levels of burden with UNIANOVA . Results In total, 487 participants were enrolled. Daily hours of care‐giving is significantly associated with the overall level of burden perceived by caregivers ( F = 4.099; P = 0.018). Strain, needs and frequency of use of coping strategies are substantially similar regardless of the patient's condition and distance from the acute event. Caregivers of post‐acute patients reported low scores in mental health (median = 33.8; IQR = 23.1–47.6) and higher state of anxiety (median = 54; IQR = 45–62), whereas caregivers of long‐term patients expressed more needs in social involvement (median = 19; IQR = 15–22). Conclusions B urden and distress were high for all caregivers of VS and MCS patients. As care‐giving is a long‐term commitment process, support to the caregiver should be guaranteed throughout the duration of the relative's disease despite the patient's diagnosis or place where the patient is hosted.