Deborah A Perlick1,2, Lesley Berk3,4, Richard Kaczynski5,6, Jodi Gonzalez7, Bruce Link8, Lisa Dixon9,10, Savannah Grier1,2, David J Miklowitz11. 1. James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and VISN 3 Mental Illness, Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Bronx, NY, USA. 2. Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. 3. Mental Health and Wellbeing Research Centre, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia. 4. Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia. 5. Veterans Affairs New England Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, West Haven, CT, USA. 6. Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. 7. Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA. 8. Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. 9. Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. 10. Center for Practice Innovations, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA. 11. Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, UCLA Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Over one-third of caregivers of people with bipolar disorder report clinically significant levels of depressive symptoms. This study examined the causal relationship between depression and caregiver burden in a large sample of caregivers of adult patients with bipolar disorder. METHODS: Participants were 500 primary caregivers of persons with bipolar disorder enrolled in the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD).This study evaluates the strength and direction of the associations between caregiver burden and depressive symptoms at baseline and at six- and 12-month follow-up using cross-lagged panel analyses, controlling for the clinical status of patients and sociodemographic variables. RESULTS: Higher levels of overall caregiver burden at baseline were associated with increased levels of depressive symptoms among caregivers at follow-up (F = 8.70, df = 1,290, p < 0.001), after controlling for baseline caregiver depression, gender, race, age, social support, and patients' clinical status. By contrast, caregiver depression at baseline was not significantly associated with caregiver burden at follow-up (F = 1.65, p = 0.20). CONCLUSIONS: Caregiver burden is a stronger predictor of caregiver depressive symptoms over time than the reverse. Interventions that help alleviate caregiver burden may decrease depressive symptoms.
OBJECTIVES: Over one-third of caregivers of people with bipolar disorder report clinically significant levels of depressive symptoms. This study examined the causal relationship between depression and caregiver burden in a large sample of caregivers of adult patients with bipolar disorder. METHODS:Participants were 500 primary caregivers of persons with bipolar disorder enrolled in the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD).This study evaluates the strength and direction of the associations between caregiver burden and depressive symptoms at baseline and at six- and 12-month follow-up using cross-lagged panel analyses, controlling for the clinical status of patients and sociodemographic variables. RESULTS: Higher levels of overall caregiver burden at baseline were associated with increased levels of depressive symptoms among caregivers at follow-up (F = 8.70, df = 1,290, p < 0.001), after controlling for baseline caregiver depression, gender, race, age, social support, and patients' clinical status. By contrast, caregiver depression at baseline was not significantly associated with caregiver burden at follow-up (F = 1.65, p = 0.20). CONCLUSIONS: Caregiver burden is a stronger predictor of caregiver depressive symptoms over time than the reverse. Interventions that help alleviate caregiver burden may decrease depressive symptoms.
Authors: Victoria J Block; Elisa Haller; Jeanette Villanueva; Andrea Meyer; Charles Benoy; Marc Walter; Undine E Lang; Andrew T Gloster Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2022-05-12
Authors: James E Aikens; Marcia Valenstein; Melissa A Plegue; Ananda Sen; Nicolle Marinec; Eric Achtyes; John D Piette Journal: Telemed J E Health Date: 2021-06-04 Impact factor: 3.536
Authors: Xiaxia Sun; Jingjing Ge; Hongdao Meng; Zhiguo Chen; Danping Liu Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-06-02 Impact factor: 3.390