[Users and utilization of support groups among caregivers of dementia patients : Results of a naturalistic observational study].

BACKGROUND: Caring for patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is frequently associated with an increased burden for the caregiving relatives (CG). While therapeutic options and low threshold assistance offers for a reduction of the burden have become well established, data on the utilization of support groups (SG) are still lacking.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the outpatient neurological and psychiatric routine treatment, AD patients were enrolled with their accompanying CG in a 2-stage study. Firstly, each patient was clinically documented by the treating physician and each CG was asked to fill out a questionnaire on the current care situation at the patient's home. In stage two, each CG was additionally assessed with a standardized interview and screened for depression with the depression screening questionnaire (DSQ). Each CG also rated the current CG burden, life satisfaction and health condition on a visual analogue scale (VAS).
RESULTS: Overall, 14.8 % of CGs attended an SG. The CGs who visited an SG showed a tendency to report a severe CG burden more often than CGs who did not (71.9 % vs. 56.3 %, p = 0.060) and more frequently a lower satisfaction with life (33.3 vs. 17.2 %, p < 0.01). They also reported higher rates of verbal and physical aggression by the patients (51.5 % vs. 34.0 %, p < 0.05 and 39.4 % vs. 12.7 %, p < 0.01, respectively) and appraised their health condition to be lower (VAS score 66.0 % vs. 54.0, p < 0.01). Depressive disorders occurred in both groups at similar rates (54.1 % and 42.1 %, p = 0.317).
CONCLUSION: The data suggest that the decision to join an SG is influenced more by behavioral and non-cognitive symptoms of the AD rather than its duration or severity.