Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence of and markers for affective disorders among cancer patients' caregivers
AU - Pitceathly, C
AU - Maguire, P
AU - Haddad, P
AU - Fletcher, Ian
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - This study aimed to establish the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among cancer patients' caregivers and to identify markers of risk. Using the Psychiatric Assessment Schedule (a standardized psychiatric interview), the authors assessed 222 caregivers retrospectively. Thirty-one caregivers (14%) had developed an affective disorder during the two years since the patients' initial cancer diagnoses. Caregivers who were the patient's partner were more likely to develop anxiety, depression, or both when their ill spouse had developed these symptoms. Notably, the prevalence of affective disorders among female caregivers was comparable to the prevalence among patients (23%). Female nonpartner caregivers developed disorders as frequently as partners did. Female caregivers with a prior history of affective disorder who reported more illness-related concerns appeared to be at particular risk, providing useful markers for clinical practice.
AB - This study aimed to establish the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among cancer patients' caregivers and to identify markers of risk. Using the Psychiatric Assessment Schedule (a standardized psychiatric interview), the authors assessed 222 caregivers retrospectively. Thirty-one caregivers (14%) had developed an affective disorder during the two years since the patients' initial cancer diagnoses. Caregivers who were the patient's partner were more likely to develop anxiety, depression, or both when their ill spouse had developed these symptoms. Notably, the prevalence of affective disorders among female caregivers was comparable to the prevalence among patients (23%). Female nonpartner caregivers developed disorders as frequently as partners did. Female caregivers with a prior history of affective disorder who reported more illness-related concerns appeared to be at particular risk, providing useful markers for clinical practice.
KW - Affective disorders
KW - caregivers
KW - cancer
U2 - 10.1300/J077v22n03_03
DO - 10.1300/J077v22n03_03
M3 - Journal article
VL - 22
SP - 45
EP - 68
JO - Journal of Psychosocial Oncology
JF - Journal of Psychosocial Oncology
SN - 1540-7586
IS - 3
ER -