The relationship between psychiatric symptoms and burden of caregivers in senile dementia patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the occurrence and severity of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia(BPSD)in elderly dementia patients, and to explore the relationship of the degree of dementia and the severity of BPSD with the burden of caregivers in pension agency. Methods Using a convenient sampling method, the Clinical Dementia Rating(CDR)scale, neuropsychiatric scale(NPI)and Zarit caregiver burden scale(ZBI)were used to evaluate 145 patients with Alzheimer's disease and caregiver burden in Hangzhou. Results The incidence rate of BPSD was 51.8%(72 cases), with a higher incidence rate of delusions of 22.3%(31 cases), a higher severity of sleep disorder/nocturnal behavior〔NPI symptom score(5.95±4.60)points〕. The symptom making a greatest burden on the caregivers was delusion〔ZBI score(32.81±17.66)points〕. There were positively correlations of the burden of caregivers with the degree of dementia and the severity of BPSD(r=0.434, 0.710, all P<0.01)in patients with senile dementia. Conclusions The incidence rate of BPSD in dementia patients is higher, and the occurrence of BPSD is associated with the severity of mini-mental state examination(MMSE)and dementia, which increases the burden of caregivers.More attention should be paid to BPSD in patients with senile dementia.And the social support system serving patients with senile dementia and their caregivers should be further improved. Key words: Dementia; Behavioral symptoms; Mental disorders