Somatic symptoms and caregiving strain among family caregivers of older patients with progressive nursing needs.

A study of 120 family caregivers caring for relatives with nursing needs caused by different diseases was carried out to measure the extent of somatic symptoms among the caregivers (Giessen Symptom List, (GSL)) and the degree of perceived burden (Burden Scale for Family Caregivers, (BSFC)). With the exception of caregivers caring for patients with internal-medical geriatric diseases, the extent of the somatic symptoms observed amongst the caregivers was significantly higher than the symptoms in their corresponding average age groups. This was true of all the symptom complexes examined. In addition to heart and stomach complaints, especially the number of cases of physical exhaustion and aching limbs was raised. The extent of somatic symptoms among male caregivers was not above-average. The correlation between the extent of the somatic symptoms and the extent of the perceived burden was highly significant.