Prevalence of major depressive episodes in non-professional caregivers

• Published in: Psychiatry research Vol. 226; no. 1; pp. 333 - 339
• Main Authors: Torres, Ángela, Blanco, Vanessa, Vázquez, Fernando L, Díaz, Olga, Otero, Patricia, Hermida, Elisabet
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 30-03-2015
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Caregivers; Caregivers - psychology; Caregivers - statistics & numerical data; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Depression - diagnosis; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - psychology; Depressive Disorder, Major - classification; Depressive Disorder, Major - epidemiology; Depressive Disorder, Major - psychology; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Epidemiology; Female; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Major depressive episode; Male; Middle Aged; Mood Disorders - complications; Mood Disorders - epidemiology; Predictors; Prevalence; Psychiatry; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders; Socioeconomic Factors; Spain - epidemiology; Spain; Caregivers; Depression; Major depressive episode; Epidemiology; Predictors
• ISSN: 0165-1781; 1872-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2014.12.066

Abstract Despite research demonstrating the psychological burden associated with caregiving, there is limited information regarding the real rates of clinical depression among non-professional caregivers (NCs) of dependent patients. The goals of the current study are (a) to report the prevalence of major depressive episodes (MDEs) and the frequency of depressive symptoms in NCs from Galicia (Spain) and (b) to examine the relationship between MDEs and characteristics of caregivers, care recipients, and the care situation. A sample of 504 NCs providing care to persons with all kinds of disorders that result in dependency was randomly selected, and the occurrence of MDEs was assessed by trained interviewers who applied the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders-Clinician Version (SCID-CV). Overall, 8.9% of NCs met the criteria for a current MDE. Sleep problems, diminished ability to think or concentrate, and depressed mood were the clinical depressive symptoms most frequently reported. MDEs were significantly more common among NCs older than 55 years old (odds ratio [OR]=1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–3.75) and those who were unemployed (OR=3.43; 95% CI 1.02–11.48). The findings highlight the magnitude of major depression in this population.