Psychische Belastungen bei Angehörigen von Schlaganfallpatienten

Abstract

Sustained psychosocial burdens as a consequence of stroke not only affect the stroke victim but frequently their spouses and significant others as well. The present study analyses the extent of emotional burden in spouses of stroke patients (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI and Beck Anxiety Inventory, BAI), examining the relationships of emotional burden in spouses with the medical assessment regarding stroke severity (Barthel Index, BI) and with the spouses' own perceptions of the stroke patients' impairment (Patient Competency Rating, PCR) as well as determining the factors that were independently associated with emotional burden in spouses. 82 spouses of stroke patients are examined in our study. The questioning was realised on admission into inpatient or partially inpatient rehabilitation centres. Initial results indicated that relatives of stroke victims have higher scores for anxiety compared to the general population. The assessment of disability in the stroke victims by their spouses correlates directly with the psychosocial burden of the spouses. By using this methodology, a high-risk group of spouses could be identified. The predictors of emotional burden in spouses (Anxiety and Depression) are gender of spouse and the spouse's subjective perception of disability in the stroke victim. The age of spouses and medical assessment of the severity of stroke on the other hand have no predictive value for the extent of emotional burden in spouses.