Quality of life of caregivers.

This article is a descriptive analysis of various features of the quality of life (QoL) of the caregivers in different pathological conditions. Definitions of the concept of QoL, caregiver goals and burdens, caregiver stress and coping with factors that could contribute to or impact the QoL in caregivers are discussed both through a review of literature and an analysis of empirical evidences. The QoL in caregivers of patients with Parkinson's disease is also discussed. An original Scale of QoL of Caregivers is described and compared with other existing measures. The concepts of patient-caregiver dyad in research and in interventions is stressed.