A longitudinal study of the relationship between levels of depression among persons with Alzheimer's disease and levels of depression among their family caregivers

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects, over time, of depress ive symptoms in persons with Alzheimer's disease on depression in their fam ily caregivers. In a sample of 353 patients and caregivers, multilevel long itudinal analysis was used to accommodate an observational design in which the number of observation points and the intervals between points varied ac ross caregivers. The rate of change (increase) in caregiver depression was predicted by the rate of change (increase) in patient depressive symptoms a nd by increase in patient dependency in instrumental activities of daily li ving (ADLs). Acceleration of the increase in caregiver depression was predi cted by acceleration in patient dependency in instrumental and basic ADLs b ut not by acceleration in patient depressive symptoms. These findings indic ate the importance of measuring the rate and acceleration of change in pati ent characteristics in order to understand caregiver depression. They also support early interventions for caregivers.