J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2005 Jul;44(4):505-510.

The Study of Factors Related to Care Burden of Caregivers in Patients with Dementia

• Ahn IS
• Kim JH
• Ku HM
• Kim DK

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to examine the determinants of care burden of caregivers in patients with dementia.
METHODS
128 dementia patients and patients' caregivers participated in this study. Care burden using the BI ; cognition using the K-MMSE ; dementia severity using the CDR ; activities of daily living using the S-ADL and the S-IADL ; behaviour problems using NPI were measured.
RESULTS
The results showed that care burden was related significantly with the K-MMSE, the CDR, the S-ADL, the SIADL and the NPI total score. Of the behavior problems, agitation/aggression, anxiety, disinhibition, irritability, and aberrant behavior correlated positively with care burden of caregivers. Regression analysis indicated that agitation/aggression, anxiety, the CDR contributed to care burden.
CONCLUSION
Agitation/aggression, anxiety and dementia severity contributed to care burden of caregivers. The identified determinants of care burden and the stress of caregivers suggest areas of therapeutic intervention to reduce caregiver's burden so that the institutionalization can be delayed.

Keyword

Dementia; Care burden; Behavior problems; CDR

MeSH Terms

Activities of Daily Living
Anxiety
Caregivers*
Cognition
Dementia*
Humans
Institutionalization