OBJECTIVE: Authors examined the impact of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer disease (AD) patients' and caregivers' quality of life (QOL) and assessed the relationship of caregiver distress to neuropsychiatric symptoms and caregiver QOL. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with probable or possible AD and their caregivers participated. Neuropsychiatric symptoms of patients were assessed with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). QOL of both patients and caregivers was assessed using the QOL-Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) scale. Each patient and caregiver completed patient QOL ratings; caregivers also completed caregiver QOL assessments. RESULTS: Caregiver QOL-AD was negatively correlated with agitation/aggression, anxiety, disinhibition, irritability/lability, and total NPI score. Patient QOL on both patient and caregiver ratings was negatively correlated with depression. Patient-reported QOL-AD ratings at different levels of cognitive functioning were not correlated with caregiver-reported ratings. The lack of relationship between patient and caregiver assessments of patient QOL was evident in both mildly and moderately affected patients. Caregiver QOL was negatively correlated with distress related to agitation/aggression, disinhibition, irritability/lability, and total NPI distress. CONCLUSION: Neuropsychiatric symptoms of AD patients adversely affect both patient and caregiver QOL. These results suggest that identifying and treating neuropsychiatric symptoms in AD may improve both patient and caregiver QOL.
OBJECTIVE: Authors examined the impact of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer disease (AD) patients' and caregivers' quality of life (QOL) and assessed the relationship of caregiver distress to neuropsychiatric symptoms and caregiver QOL. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with probable or possible AD and their caregivers participated. Neuropsychiatric symptoms of patients were assessed with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). QOL of both patients and caregivers was assessed using the QOL-Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) scale. Each patient and caregiver completed patient QOL ratings; caregivers also completed caregiver QOL assessments. RESULTS: Caregiver QOL-AD was negatively correlated with agitation/aggression, anxiety, disinhibition, irritability/lability, and total NPI score. Patient QOL on both patient and caregiver ratings was negatively correlated with depression. Patient-reported QOL-AD ratings at different levels of cognitive functioning were not correlated with caregiver-reported ratings. The lack of relationship between patient and caregiver assessments of patient QOL was evident in both mildly and moderately affected patients. Caregiver QOL was negatively correlated with distress related to agitation/aggression, disinhibition, irritability/lability, and total NPI distress. CONCLUSION:Neuropsychiatric symptoms of ADpatients adversely affect both patient and caregiver QOL. These results suggest that identifying and treating neuropsychiatric symptoms in AD may improve both patient and caregiver QOL.
Authors: Philip S Wang; M Alan Brookhart; Soko Setoguchi; Amanda R Patrick; Sebastian Schneeweiss Journal: Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep Date: 2006-11 Impact factor: 5.081
Authors: Angelina R Sutin; Yannick Stephan; Martina Luchetti; Antonio Terracciano Journal: Int J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2017-09-04 Impact factor: 3.485
Authors: Antonio Lobo; Raúl López-Antón; Concepción de-la-Cámara; Miguel Angel Quintanilla; Antonio Campayo; Pedro Saz Journal: Neurotox Res Date: 2008-10 Impact factor: 3.911
Authors: Paula T Trzepacz; Jeffrey Cummings; Thomas Konechnik; Tammy D Forrester; Curtis Chang; Ellen B Dennehy; Brian A Willis; Catherine Shuler; Linda B Tabas; Constantine Lyketsos Journal: Int Psychogeriatr Date: 2012-12-21 Impact factor: 3.878
Authors: Yosef A Berlow; William M Wells; James M Ellison; Young Hoon Sung; Perry F Renshaw; David G Harper Journal: Int J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2010-08 Impact factor: 3.485