FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION AMONG INFORMAL CAREGIVERS OF DEMENTED ELDERS IN THE COMMUNITY

This study assessed variables associated with increased severity of de pressive symptoms among 321 informal caregivers of demented subjects l iving in the community identified by a Canadian national population-ba sed survey. Measures included patient and caregiver demographic variab les; patient behavioral disturbance, activities of daily living, and c ognitive impairment; living arrangement, and duration of disease. Depr essive symptoms were measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studie s Depression Scale (CES-D). Multiple regression analyses indicated tha t a higher CES-D score was significantly associated with three caregiv er characteristics (being a spouse or child of the patient, self-ident ified ethnicity other than English and French Canadian, and lower educ ation), and two patient characteristics (greater behavioral disturbanc e and moderate to severe functional impairment).