CARING FOR A FAMILY MEMBER WITH A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

The responses to a questionnaire on subjective burden are reported for 52 primary caregivers of a group of persons with traumatic brain inju ries sustained an average of 6 years previously. The aim of the study was to examine satisfaction with social support, perception of coping skills, and appraisal of symptoms as predictors of strain in the carer ;. A range of responses, both positive and negative, to the work of ca ring for a relative with a head injury was reported. A high prevalence rate of emotional and behavioural changes in the persons with head in juries was found and the amount of distress caused by these symptoms w as found to be predictive of burden. The other factor important in pre dicting burden was the carers' ratings of their satisfaction with thei r ability to cope with the work of caregiving. Social support, injury severity, and the demographic characteristics of the persons with head injury and their carer; were not significant predictor;. Depression i n the carers was also investigated and the variable most predictive of elevated depression scores was coping satisfaction. These findings re inforce the importance of strengthening carers coping resources in reh abilitation work with head injured persons and their families.