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Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression in Family Caregivers of Patients with Dementia

Capstone
2024

Repository

Description

Background: When an individual is diagnosed with dementia and their functioning begins to decline, they often rely on family members for assistance. It is estimated that 65-75% of the time, this care is provided at home by family members, including spouses and adult children.1 The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence of depression and anxiety in family caregivers of patients with dementia. Methods: Participants for this study were recruited from support groups and the Alzheimer’s Association-Georgia Chapter. Participants were eligible for the study if they were 18 years or older and provided care for a family member with dementia. Eligible participants were asked to complete a Qualtrics survey, which included demographic questions, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) screening tools. Moderate/severe depression and anxiety were defined as scores of 10 or greater on the PHQ-9 or the GAD-7, respectively. A convenience sample of 21 people completed the survey. Results: Most participants were 56 years and older (95.2%), female (95.2%), White, (81.0%), married (81.9%) and of Christian faith (85.7%). 80.9% of participants lived with the family member and 66.7% provided all of the care for their family member. Among those surveyed, 28.6% reported moderate or severe depression, 45% reported moderate or severe anxiety, and 28.6% reported both depression and anxiety. Conclusion: The results of this study provide insight into the prevalence of anxiety and depression in family caregivers of patients with dementia. According to the 2022 National Health Interview Survey, 12.5% of adults have regular anxiety and 5.0% have feelings of depression in the general population.2 The prevalence of anxiety and depression in the study is much higher iv than the general population. Support is needed for patients with dementia as well as their caregivers. This study should be replicated with a larger sample size to confirm results.
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Record Data:

Program:
Physician Assistant Studies
Location:
Atlanta
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