Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-10-31T22:55:34.204Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

YPSP01-08 - Are Psychopathological Symptoms In Patients With Dementia Related To Stress Perception In The Caregiver?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 April 2020

L. Pingani
Affiliation:
Mental Health, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
I. Cataldo
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
M. De Bernardis
Affiliation:
Private Clinic ‘Villa Maria Luigia’, Monticelli Terme, Italy
M.L. Ughetti
Affiliation:
Private Clinic ‘Villa Maria Luigia’, Monticelli Terme, Italy
A. Fulvio
Affiliation:
Private Clinic ‘Villa Maria Luigia’, Monticelli Terme, Italy
E. De Bernardis
Affiliation:
Private Clinic ‘Villa Maria Luigia’, Monticelli Terme, Italy
S. Ferrari
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
G. Turrini
Affiliation:
Private Clinic ‘Villa Maria Luigia’, Monticelli Terme, Italy
M. Rigatelli
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Objectives

To test the presence of significant correlations between psychopathological symptoms in patients with dementia and the stress perceived by the primary caregiver.

Methods

Primary caregivers of patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of dementia admitted to the neuro-psycho-geriatric-rehabilitation ward of the private hospital “Villa Maria Luigia”, Parma - Italy, between May and November 2008 were asked to take part in the study. The NPI scale (UCLA Neuropsychiatric Inventory - Commings J.L. et al., 1994) and a socio-demographic data collection schedule were administered to the primary caregiver willing to be involved in the study.

Results

Only 30 of the 40 eligible subjects agreed to take part to the study (75%). 35 significant correlations (according to Spearman's Correlation Index) were found. Those most highly significant (p< 0.001) were between stress perception and the following NPI symptom categories: delirium, hallucination, agitation, euphoria, apathy, disinhibition, aberrant physical activity and sleep disorders.

Conclusions

The psychopathological symptoms found to contribute mostly to distress of caregivers were those most showy and disruptive of behaviour; other symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, irritability and eating disorders are better tolerated as considered normal consequences of ageism. Interventions addressed to caregivers should provide them with detailed and structured coping instruments. Clear, therefore, the need for all health professionals, to structure an intervention aimed at caregivers characterized by two different phases:

  1. 1. To provide more tools to recognize those disorders which don’t emotionally involve them;

  2. 2. To give detailed, structured information useful to cope with these disorders in everyday life.

Type
YP Scholar poster
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2010
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.