Psychological status and family burden in caregivers of adult people with epilepsy.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to assess anxiety and depression symptoms as well as family burden in the caregivers of adult people with epilepsy (PWE), and to illustrate the influencing factors in depression and anxiety in the caregivers of adult PWE.

METHODS

178 pairs of adult PWE and their caregivers attending our epilepsy center participated in this study. Demographic characteristics, and anxiety and depression scores were collected for both PWE and their caregivers. Family burden and stress were also assessed by caregivers.

RESULTS

In PWE, 45 (31.69 %) participants suffered anxiety symptoms, and 51 (35.92 %) suffered depression symptoms. Anxiety and depression symptoms were detected in 42 (29.58 %) and 40 (28.17 %) of caregivers for adult PWE respectively. Caregivers reported moderate levels of family burden (0.52 ± 0.50), while family economic burden gained the highest score (0.79 ± 0.65). Depression in PWE (B = 0.238, p < 0.001; B = 0.319, p < 0.001), the mental health of family members (B = 10.240, p < 0.001; B = 8.281, p < 0.001) and stress (B = 0.075, p = 0.002; B = 0.091, p = 0.008) in caregivers were independently associated with both anxiety and depression in caregivers.

CONCLUSION

Depression in PWE was independently associated with anxiety and depression in caregivers, respectively. Stress and the mental health of family members in caregivers were independently associated with anxiety and depression in caregivers, separately. Levels of anxiety and depression in caregivers were significantly related to family burden. Therefore, the psychological status of caregivers for adult PWE should be paid more attention in epilepsy treatment.