PSYCHIATRIC COMPLICATIONS OF DEMENTIA - IMPACT ON CAREGIVERS

This study was designed to determine the relationship between psychiat ric features of dementia and their impact on caregivers. 35 patient-ca regiver pairs were evaluated at two university-affiliated dementia cli nics, using standard instruments to rate patient psychiatric features and caregiver burden and depression. There were highly significant cor relations between patient agitation and both caregiver burden (r = 0.5 9, p = 0.0002) and depression (r = 61, p = 0.0001). These associations remained significant after adjusting for multiple demographic and dem entia variables. There was no significant association between patient delusions, hallucinations, or depression and caregiver burden or depre ssion. Agitation, particularly physical aggression, may impact caregiv ers even more than does the cognitive status of the demented patient.