The aetiology of depression in the carers of dementia sufferers

Abstract

Objective: To examine the associations of depression in the carers of dementia sufferers, diagnosed on the basis of a semistructured interview. Design: Case control study. Setting: Referrals to clinical services. Subjects: The informal carers of 109 dementia sufferers, 32 with depression and 77 without. Measures: Carers were interviewed using the Geriatric Mental State Schedule. The diagnosis of depression was made according to Research Diagnostic Criteria. Instruments used to assess associations included Carers' Stress Scale, Marital Intimacy Scale, Cornell Depression Scale and CAMCOG Schedule. Results: Only increasing age was significantly associated with depression in the overall group of carers. The severity of cognitive impairment was significantly associated with depression in carers who lived with a dementia sufferer and a low level of premorbid marital intimacy was significantly associated with depression amongst carers who were marital partners. Conclusion: Few factors are clearly associated with depression in the carers of dementia sufferers. The pattern of associations was, however, different for carers in different situations.