Analysis of caregiver burden of elderly with Alzheimer disease caused by behavioral psychological symptons of dementia

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized as a degenerative disease that affects manydomains, including behavior and can cause burden in caregivers/family member of these individuals.The aim of the study was to analyze the caregiver burden in relation to the presence and intensityof Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Dementia (BPSD). We used socio demographic profile, Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and NPI - caregiver distress (NPI-D) for our evaluation.We interviewed 30 caregivers of elderly with Alzheimer disease according to NINCDS-ADRDAcriteria, divided in mild level (n=15) and moderate level (n=15) according to DSM-III-R criteria.The most prevalent symptoms were, in the mild level, anxiety and depression, and in the moderatelevel they were anxiety and agitation. The analyses conducted between caregivers’ distress andBPSD showed us that the symptoms with the greatest correlation in the mild level were agitationfollowed by disinhibition. In relation to caregiver burden there was a significant correlation withdelirium in mild level and apathy in moderate level. In conclusion, it was observed that the BPSDthat affect the burden caregivers differ according to the level of the disease and the knowledge ofthese impacts allows us to reflect and propose actions to implement public policies and interventionsin the care of the elderly and their caregivers/family members