Longitudinal patterns of risk for depression in dementia caregivers: Objective and subjective primary stress as predictors

The present study examined how patterns of risk for depression over 1 year in 188 dementia caregivers (consistently asymptomatic, n = 88; consistently symptomatic, n = 40 changing risk. n = 60) could be predicted by objective (behaviour problems of the relative) and subjective (role captivity and ov erload) primary stress. Results reveal that all primary stressors different iated caregivers who remained at low Levels of symptomatology over the cour se of I year From those who were at risk for experiencing a depressive diso rder. In addition, caregivers' subjective experience of role captivity pred icted the chronicity of risk. Findings extend prior caregiving research on patterns of depressive symptomatology by highlighting the relationship betw een subjective primary stressors and stability and change in caregivers men tal health.