Open AccessANALYSIS OF FACTORS AFFECTING THE PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL STATE OF INDIVIDUALS CARING FOR PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA
Author(s) -
Olha Orlova
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
aktualʹnì problemi sučasnoï medicini: vìsnik ukraïnsʹkoï medičnoï stomatologìčnoï akademì
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2077-1126
pISSN - 2077-1096
DOI - 10.31718/2077-1096.21.4.53
Subject(s) - dementia , anxiety , depression (economics) , medicine , psychiatry , disease , workload , clinical psychology , exacerbation , mental health , maladaptation , gerontology , psychology , computer science , economics , macroeconomics , operating system
The number of people with dementia is growing worldwide, and the prognosis is pointing out a significant increase in the overall prevalence of the disease because of aging. The deterioration of the patient's condition results in the increasing load on guardians that, in turns, leads to the deterioration of their psychoemotional state, and subsequently to the appearance or exacerbation of chronic somatic diseases. The purpose of this study is to determine the features of the psycho-emotional state in people who caring for patients with dementia. It has been found that almost 80% of patients with dementia receive care from their relatives. Care-givers for these patients are at risk of depression, anxiety and psychological stress. It has been stated that the high level of workload of caregivers largely depends on the patient’s ability to daily activity and the severity of dementia. Physical, emotional and economic overstrain leads to stress and an increase in cases of depressive, anxiety disorders in caregivers. Our study has identified factors influencing the mental health of caregivers, among which the severity of dementia and the patient's ability to be active and perform daily routine. It has been found that depending on the level of psychological stress, people with high levels of mental stress are more likely to show asthenia (p<0.001), social maladaptation (p<0.005), anxiety (p<0.001) and depression (p <0.001). This category of people needs psychological and counselling support. It is important to educate caregivers and to develop psychoeducational measures aimed at understanding the improvement of one's own psychological health, quality of life and determining the key role of care in meeting one's own needs.