Stress Symptoms In Caregivers Research Articles

Unmasking the Struggle: A Scoping Review Exploring Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Caregivers of Individuals with Neurodevelopmental, Psychiatric and Neurocognitive Disorders.

The impact of caregiving on caregivers' mental health is typically considered within the caregiver stress and burden literature; however, more recently, research has investigated the experience of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in caregivers. As an emerging area of research, it is timely to conduct a scoping review to map the existing literature in relation to PTSS among adult caregivers of children and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), neurocognitive disorders, and psychiatric disorders. The scoping review was conducted using Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines and Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage methodology framework. Published and unpublished gray literature between 2005 and 2022 was included in the scoping review. Nine thousand one hundred and twenty-five studies were originally identified for screening and 22 studies were selected for inclusion in the final review. Trauma and PTSS experienced by NDD caregivers were related to news breaking, NDD diagnosis, and behavioral issues, whereas caregivers of individuals with psychosis reported aggression and violence as traumatic events. Studies showed that up to half of caregivers reported PTSS, although no conclusions could be drawn about prevalence rates. A wide variety of tools measuring PTSS were used across the 22 studies. Many symptoms of PTSS were reported by caregivers, and cognitive appraisals were associated with PTSS in caregivers. The findings highlight the importance of recognizing the impact of trauma in caregiver mental health and the potential value of using traumatic stress frameworks with these populations. Research should be expanded to establish prevalence rates and to examine the long-term impact of trauma on caregiving as caregivers and care recipients age.

Music and Psychology & Social Connections Program: Protocol for a Novel Intervention for Dyads Affected by Younger-Onset Dementia.

Psychosocial interventions targeting the specific needs of people affected by younger-onset dementia are lacking. Younger-onset dementia refers to dementia where symptom onset occurs at less than 65 years old. Because of its occurrence in middle age, the impact on spouses is particularly marked and dyadic-based interventions are recommended. Music And Psychology & Social Connections (MAPS) is a novel online intervention, informed by the theory of adaptive coping by Bannon et al. (2021) for dyads affected by younger-onset dementia. MAPS combines therapeutic songwriting, cognitive behaviour therapy, and a private social networking group that focuses on the dyads. This will be a randomised controlled trial with a waitlist control. The primary aims are to assess whether MAPS improves depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms in caregivers, with secondary aims to assess whether MAPS improves depressive symptoms in people with younger-onset dementia. The trial also aims to assess dyadic social connectedness; caregiver coping skills; and neuropsychiatric symptoms in people with younger-onset dementia. We will recruit 60 dyads to participate in a group-based weekly online program for 8 weeks facilitated by a credentialed music therapist and psychologist. Sessions 1 and 8 will include both caregivers and people with younger-onset dementia and Sessions 2–7 will involve separate group sessions for caregivers and those with dementia. There will be focus groups for qualitative feedback. Due to its online administration, MAPS has the potential to reach many dyads affected by younger-onset dementia.

Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Caregivers and Children with Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is a disorder of cerebrospinal fluid dynamics, traditionally treated by placement of a ventricular shunt. Shunts are effective but imperfect as they fail in an unpredictable pattern, and the patient's well-being is dependent on adequate shunt function. The omnipresent threat of shunt failure along with the potential need for invasive investigations can be stressful for patients and caregivers. Our objective was to measure post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in children with hydrocephalus and their caregivers. A cross-sectional analysis of children with hydrocephalus and their caregivers was conducted. Caregivers completed a measure of their own PTSS (the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-V) and resilience (the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale). Pediatric patients rated their own PTSS and resilience using the Acute Stress Checklist for Kids and Connor Davidson Resilience Scale. Ninety-one caregivers completed the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-V. Mean score was 17.0 (standard deviation 15.7; median 13.0). Fourteen percent scored above 33, the threshold suggestive of a preliminary diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. There was a statistically significant association between caregiver post-traumatic stress and marital status, child's race, and caregiver education. More thanhalf (52%) of caregivers reported their child's hydrocephalus as the most significant source of their PTSS. Children did not have markedly elevated levels of PTSS. Forty-one percent of caregivers and 60% of children scored in the lowest resilience quartile compared with the general population. Results from this study suggest that post-traumatic stress affects caregivers with hydrocephalus, yet levels of resilience for caregivers and pediatric patients are low.

2418 Post-traumatic stress symptoms in caregivers of pediatric hydrocephalus population

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: The goal of this study is to characterize traumatic events and post-traumatic stress symptom severity experienced by caregivers of children with hydrocephalus. Results will eventually be evaluated and compared with demographic and medical characteristics. This study is part of a larger research project that aims to (1) determine the prevalence and risk factors for post-traumatic stress symptoms in pediatric hydrocephalus patients and their caregivers; (2) develop a targeted intervention to mitigate its effects and pilot test the intervention. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Caregivers of children with hydrocephalus that have received surgical treatment (CSF shunt or ETV/CPC) were enrolled during routine follow up visit in a pediatric neurosurgery clinic. Caregivers completed the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), a 20-item self-report measure that assesses the presence and severity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Participant responses (n=56) revealed that 57.14% of caregivers indicated that their most traumatic event was directly related to their child’s medical condition. In total, 23.21% of caregivers did not specify their most traumatic event and 1.79% of caregivers indicated that they had never experienced a traumatic event. Median Total Symptom Severity Score was 11 (mean: 15.32±14.92), and scores ranged from 0 to 67; 32.14% of caregivers scored 19 or greater, and 16.07% of caregivers scored 33 or greater, a value suggestive of a provisional diagnosis of PTSD. Severity scores by DSM-V clusters were as follows: cluster B—intrusion symptoms (mean: 4.91±4.77, median: 4, range: 0–20), cluster C—avoidance symptoms (mean: 1.27±1.87, median: 0.5, range: 0–8), cluster D—negative alterations in cognition and mood (mean: 4.86±6.07, median: 2, range: 0–22), and cluster E—alterations in arousal and reactivity (mean: 4.29±4.07, median: 3, range: 0–17). DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Preliminary results from this study indicate that post-traumatic stress symptoms are prevalent among caregivers of children with hydrocephalus. These results suggest that psychosocial issues such as PTSS may be a significant problem in need of treatment, that is not traditionally addressed as part of routine care for families of children with hydrocephalus. Characterizing post-traumatic stress symptoms in this population sets the foundation for the development of screening and treatment protocols for post-traumatic stress symptoms in caregivers of children with hydrocephalus. This study is the first step towards fundamentally improving routine clinical care and quality of life for patients with hydrocephalus and their caregivers by understanding and addressing the effects of traumatic stress.

The Aging Brain Care Medical Home: Preliminary Data.

The Aging Brain Care (ABC) Medical Home aims to improve the care, health outcomes, and medical costs of Medicare beneficiaries with dementia or depression across central Indiana. This population health management program, funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Innovation Center, expanded an existing collaborative dementia and depression care program to serve 1,650 older adults in a local safety-net hospital system. During the first year, 20 full-time clinical staff were hired, trained, and deployed to deliver a collaborative care intervention. In the first 18months, an average of 13 visits was provided per person. Thirty percent of the sample had a diagnosis of dementia, and 77% had a diagnosis of depression. Sixty-six percent of participants with high depression scores (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score ≥14) had at least a 50% reduction in their depressive symptoms. Fifty-one percent of caregivers of individuals with dementia had at least a 50% reduction in caregiver stress symptoms (measured by the Healthy Aging Brain Care Monitor-Caregiver Version). After 18months, the ABC Medical Home has demonstrated progress toward improving the health of older adults with dementia and depression. Scalable and practical models like this show initial promise for answering the challenges posed by the nation's rapidly aging population.